KEYBOARDIST and music producer Christopher Birch says predicting a hit song isn’t always possible. His main focus is creating songs that stand the test of time.

“For me, it’s all about making music and having fun with it. Things happen and sometimes they don’t happen. Sometimes you put in the marketing and the effort and it doesn’t work. But I’m not disappointed when it doesn’t work. So, in a nutshell, we always have to be surprised and give thanks at the same time,” Birch shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

Last Friday, one of Birch’s productions, Bruck off Yuh Back by Konshens was certified silver in the United Kingdom for sales exceeding 200,000 units.

Bruck Off Yuh Back, released in late 2015, was a massive hit for the Duhaney Park-raised Konshens.

The song was recorded at his Subkonshus Records studio in Kingston.

Said Birch: “I started a project and voiced two artistes. The rhythm was sent to Konshens and two days later he sent back the song. It was at my studio. I was the one who built the rhythm.”

Birch is quite upbeat about the certification for Bruck Off Yuh Back which was issued by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

“I’m giving thanks. Silver, gold or platinum, the sky’s the limit. Let’s go!”

This is the first British-certified single for Konshens. He earned a gold certification in Belgium and Germany as well as a platinum certification in the Netherlands for the hit 2015 single Policeman with Dutch singer Eva Simons.

Policeman was produced by Sidney Samson with former Campion College alum, Grammy-nominated Rodney Hill working on the marketing side.

The song topped charts in Suriname, Israel, and Belgium. It also made charts in Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Birch who has worked on several albums by Shaggy, earned certificaions for his co-production of the song Hey Sexy Lady, which had been released in 2002 and features on Shaggy’s Lucky Day album. The song has been certified platinum in Canada and Australia and gold in Belgium. It also features Brian and Tony Gold.

It peaked at #10 in the United Kingdom and #97 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.

In France, Hey Sexy Lady has sold in excess of 300,000 units.

Birch, a former member of Shaggy’s band, started out with the SANE Band. He also worked with several bands on the hotel cabaret circuit and later ventured into music production.

He came to the fore with the Thrilla rhythm, released in 2004 on his Echo label. It spawned Macka Diamond’s breakthrough hit Done Already, Exit Sign by Voice Mail, Get On Up and Dance by Elephant Man, Solid as a Rock by T.O.K., and Stand Firm by Bounty Killer, among others.

He has toured with several acts through the years, including Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths, Tony Rebel, Wayne Wonder, Mutabruka, and Diana King. (Jamaica Observer)