AFTER a self-imposed break, singer Da'Ville is hoping for a chart comeback with the release of new songs for different producers. In an interview with the Observer last week, he said personal 'demons' influenced his decision to temporarily step away from recording.

He acknowledged the repercussions an extended absence has for any career in a competitive scene.

"Maybe it will hurt, with all honesty, I feel the effects of it now," he said. "I guess this will be my ultimate test but it's a test I'm willing to take on."

Da'Ville, 34, spoke to the Observer from the United States east coast where he did some shows. He was next scheduled to perform in New Orleans and French Guyana before moving on to Europe for more dates. Before leaving Jamaica, he recorded a handful of songs including You Got The Ting and the aptly-titled Took A Break. The former was produced by JA Productions while Took A Break was self-produced for Da'Ville's Fashozy Records.

A new album, his second, is also scheduled to be released this year. Da'Ville broke through as a solo act in 2007 with Always On My Mind, produced by Donovan Germain for the latter's Penthouse Records. One of the biggest hits of the year in Jamaica, it came after he spent years as a member of the vocal group, ARP.

Always On My Mind caught the attention of Grammy-winning deejay Sean Paul whose toasting enhanced the song and made it a minor hit in regional US markets. The follow-up, This Time I Promise, was also a radio favourite, but chart-wise not much has been heard of Da'Ville in the last two years.

"I felt that I needed to get away from everything for a moment. Even though I had all this success I had a lot of demons battling at the same time," he explained.

"I lost myself somewhere along the line and was in a very dark place, I felt I was losing my mind," he added. "I was a very irate and angry individual."

The singer did not elaborate on the 'demons' that curtailed his recording schedule but said his studio activity has increased in recent months. In addition to JA Productions and Penthouse, he says he has done songs for in-demand producer Sean 'Seanizzle' Reid and Cash Flow Records.

"The most exciting thing about these projects is that I am finally back in my frame of mind and making moves in the direction I want to," Da'Ville said.