Beres Hammond and Tanya Stephens share their ‘Love Story’

If there's one man who has Tanya Stephens' ticket, it's Beres Hammond. And right now she is walking on cloud nine, owing to her cuddly Love Story with the celebrated singer.

"If I had a bucket list, doing a song with Beres would be the entire list ... plus the bucket. Right now, mi hype. Mi inna mi regal state. Oonu haffi go put up with me for a time, because a bare royal wave mi a do," an over-the-moon Stephens told THE WEEKEND STAR.

On Love Story, Hammond is smooth like butter as he compares their love to that of couples such as Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Peaches and Herb, Romeo and Juliet, as he croons " There's nothing like a good love story that brings tears to your eyes." Stephens adds flavour with her girly, fairy-tale-like "once upon a time" intro and her swooning lyrics.

"No matter how many people he's done it with, a Beres collab is special. This is the most excited I have been in music. Love Story is classic Beres."

Her joy also radiates from the fact that Love Story comes out Friday, August 29 -- on Free Willy Records, distributed by VPAL Music -- and Hammond celebrated his 70th birthday on Thursday. "It's pure alignment," Stephens declared.

Throughout the hour-long interview Stephens was pure "extraness" coupled with refreshing enthusiasm.

The road to Love Story started 20 years ago when Stephens wrote a song for Hammond and her, but the timing wasn't right and she did the song with Wyclef Jean. "Big up to Wyclef!"

Fast-forward to 2025 and a "buck up" with veteran producer Arthur Wale at Rub-a-dub Thursdays. He told her about a new rhythm that he had, plus a new song with Hammond.

"Mi seh, 'Hol' on ... yuh have a Beres? Like a Beres Hammond song that me can go pon? Arthur Wale, me and you neva a go war again.' And so far, me keep mi promise," Stephens said, laughing.

With a catalogue to prove her great songwriting ability, writing Love Story was a challenge because she was "not going to go pon a Beres Hammond song and flop".

"This is not a commercial venture, this is heart work. It is a big deal. The child in me is happy and proud, and the adult in me feels accomplished," Stephens said.