Unlocking another compelling chapter from his extensive archival series The Vault, White Plains, New York-based composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Stephen H. Cumberbatch—professionally known as C’batch—returns with his latest EP, I Guess You Want It This Way. Released via his longtime imprint Stevette Music, Inc., the six-track collection brings a composition nearly 26 years in the making into the present day. Dedicated to legendary Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin—whom C’batch memorably met at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2001—the project bridges decades of musical history, seamlessly fusing authentic reggae foundations with soul, R&B, and contemporary production aesthetics.
The origin of the title track traces back over a quarter-century, inspired by C’batch’s Jamaican-born wife, Yvette, who had long encouraged him to write a proper reggae song. Although an early version was crafted and paired with personal slideshow photography during a trip to Jamaica in the early 2000s, the composition remained unfinished in C’batch’s mind. Yet, its infectious central hook, harmony, and verse melody refused to fade. Returning to the piece in 2026 as part of his “Year of the Vault,” C’batch finally penned the lyrics and built a multifaceted EP around six distinct sonic interpretations of that enduring theme.
C’batch’s career roots run deep into New York’s seminal early-1980s dance and club era. As a pioneer of synth and sampler programming, his catalog boasts classic club fixtures including Sinnamon’s “I Need You Now” (featuring Bernard Fowler)—a heavily sampled staple across electronic music history—and NV’s “Let Me Do You” (featuring Will Downing), which received a famed remix by Shep Pettibone. Across all six versions on the new EP, C’batch leverages that rich background, treating the core melody as an evolving canvas that moves effortlessly between laid-back island rhythms and polished urban arrangements.
What works particularly well is the EP’s multi-perspective approach to a single musical concept. Rather than offering repetitive remixes, the six versions explore diverse textural landscapes—from intricate, jazz-influenced guitar lines that pay homage to Ranglin’s signature style to warm, syncopated basslines and modern R&B grooves. The unhurried delivery and refined production highlight C’batch’s seasoned instincts as a arranger, allowing the central hook to shine through every iteration without losing its organic charm.
Ultimately, I Guess You Want It This Way stands as a soulful, heartfelt triumph of artistic patience. By completing an unfinished musical conversation spanning twenty-six years, C’batch delivers an essential, genre-blending EP that honors reggae royalty while cementing the ongoing legacy of The Vault.
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