A year and a half break in Japan and a child that followed may help to explain the absence of recording artiste Terry Linen from the reggae scene in Jamaica.

Terry Linen, whose real name is Kiplin Simpson, says he moved to Japan in 2006 and returned to Jamaica in late 2007.

"I moved to Japan and deh down deh a gwaan chill but mi neva a do no work," Linen told THE STAR.

He said during the time he started dating a 'Japanese daughter' who gave birth to their son, now two years old. He returned to Jamaica at the request of his family and fans urging him to continue doing music as he had tremendous talent.

"You know how de business go, sometimes you have ups and downs. Mi jus' sit back and hold a meditation and come back wid a different vibes," said Linen who is known for hits such as Funny Love, Couldn't Be The Girl For Me, Jah Save Me and Call On A Friend.

He has definitely come back with a different vibe as he no longer sports the dyed blonde hair that he had earlier in his career.

"I've been back to Jamaica since January and di ting jus tek off. Mi come back wid a new image. Dem time deh mi used to have red head, but a big man ting mi deh pon now. De red head a bwoy bwoy ting," he said.

He has definitely come back to claim his prize as he has been getting tremendous airplay for his song Mood For Love, which has reached the number one spot on a couple local charts. His newer songs No Time To Linger and Better Man are also getting rotation.

Currently, Linen is signed to Uplifting Music International through which he will release his next album by December, despite an August schedule. The album will feature some of his recently released tracks, some newer ones and a couple cover songs.

Linen says this will be a more powerful album than his first, which was titled 'Terry Linen', as it has mostly original songs that were written by him.

Gospel songs are also on the agenda as he wants to release a gospel album later this year after the completion of his second secular album.

"Mi a country yute and mi did haffi go Sabbath church when mi a grow up. Music can change the people to. De yutes dem can write bout other things more than de gun lyrics and violence. De people dem caan tek weh a gwaan, it nagging a road," said Terry Linen who grew up in Red Bank, St Elizabeth.

At the end of this week, Linen says he will be off to a two-week tour in the United States, making stops in Florida, New York and Atlanta.