For Jeremy Waterhouse, releasing his first album is the beginning of a dream come true.

Waterhouse is holding a CD release party on April 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Waterhouse Ballroom at Deerhurst Resort.

Titled Ease it Up, the CD features 11 original reggae-style songs that are full of catchy, melodic tunes that will leave any listener wanting more. But it’s the hit single Evening Moon, featuring a special performance by local musician Dwayne Mahon, that Waterhouse says is one of his favourites as the lyrics touch on the arrival of summer.

“It’s more or less about that time of year that’s the perfect summer weekend,” Waterhouse said, noting that all his band members contribute to writing material. “You see that certain someone you only see once a year, whether you know them or not. . . .They just pass by and you think of them. It’s a summer love song.”

With locals like Christine Heron on backup vocals, Lord Thebus on bass, Richard Jackson on the drums, Willie Main on the rhythm guitar and guitar synthesizer, Jamie Hazzard on keyboards and Shaggs Pelling as the DJ, Waterhouse says, the band, appropriately named Waterhouse, bring a new, modern zest to reggae.

“It’s all over the place,” Waterhouse responded when asked to describe the overall sound of the CD. “It’s an easy-listening reggae album. It’s reggae, pop and rock mixed together. I’ve always wanted to do an album like this, so this is the beginning of a dream come true.”

Ease it Up took about eight months to record. Half was done in Nashville with Mel Shaw and Kid Kody Music at Larry Merrit Studio. Waterhouse then took the CD to have it mastered at a studio in Toronto and then “put the icing on the cake” and completed it at his home studio in Huntsville.

Throughout Waterhouse’s life he has always been exposed to music. While his great-grandfather Charles founded Deerhurst, his father Willard established a Vegas show at the resort in the early 1980s. Waterhouse’s father also organized concerts at Hidden Valley in the 1960s, which included bringing in big-named bands to the venue such as The Yardbirds, The Hollies and Neil Diamond.

 “My father always had a good ear for music,” stated Waterhouse. “When I was growing up, I watched the Vegas show at Deerhurst every night. It’s going to be such an honour to play there (at the CD launch). Music has always been a big part of who I am. I’m currently working on another CD, which is more hip-hop, reggae, rock style. I’ve just always loved reggae. . . , the off beats, the melodies, the possibilities. . . . It’s so easy to mix with other music.”  

An aspiring artist as well, Waterhouse has also been busy painting some new pieces. He is hoping to have an art show featuring his new work in the fall.

“Painting and music are both long roads to follow but they are both something I love,” he said. “And if I could get a career doing both that would make me really happy.”

To download tunes from Waterhouse visit www.myspace.com/jeremywaterhouse or go to www.kozrecords.com. To view some of Jeremy Waterhouse’s art pieces, visit www.waterhouseart.com.