Ikaya - Contributed

Quite awareof her own musical talents, fast-rising dancehall artiste Ikaya will be hoping to promote Jamaican music further on the world stage as she continues to make strides both locally and abroad.

The 23-year-old singjay, who will celebrate her birthday on February 5, sat down with THE WEEKEND STAR recently and outlined some of her musical ambitions.

She made it clear that she was not speaking based off wishful thinking or imaginary goals and aspirations, but from a deeper love and basic understanding of what was required to make it big in the music business.

"I'm very versatile. I don't limit my music to dancehall because I can do a lot of different things," she said in an affirmative tone.

first single

As a young student attending Wolmer's Girls' School, the Waterhouse native recorded and released her first single, Fire Whoa,in2001, on Cordel 'Scatta' Burrell's Martial Arts rhythm.

Ikaya will be the first to tell you that she knows music is a competitive field to break into, but she believes that with the right attitude and materials, she will be well on her way to success.

Every time the name Ikaya comes up, the singjay, who was also featured on Merciless' inspiring cultural hit Amber Alert, is hoping for it to be something worthy of mention, as she has developed a deep connection with music.

"For now, music is my man. Everything that I hope to get in music I am going to go hard at achieving," she said.

Ikaya, whose real name is Kadian Blair, is also from a musical family. Her grandfather and reggae icon, Irving Pusey, was a member of popular ska, rocksteady and reggae vocal group, The Ethiopians.

However, on the flip side, both her father, Hugh 'Bingy' Blair, and brother, Nicholas Beckett, are football lovers, with the former being a past national player and the latter currently playing for Harbour View FC.

"I don't know, but I eat, sleep and breathe music (laughs). I'm from a musical background, and even though my father was a former national player, he encourages me every day to use up my talents in music," she said.

determined

Now signed to Outaroad Records, Ikaya is determined to be the next big thing in dancehall. The singer and deejay, who graduated from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2007, seems to be doing well, as her singles Good Up, Good Up and Money Ova Man have made an impression on the public.

It means that the formula Ikaya has employed has so far been working well with her fans. Even though it took almost a decade for her to get much public and media attention, the These Tears I Cry lyricist felt it came at the right time.

"I just felt like this is the right time to push my career, because, you know, one has to be mentally prepared for everything that comes in music," she said.

Ikaya has also collaborated with Unicorn on the single Ma Name, which was directed at Macka Diamond, and will be hosting her birthday party on February 6 at Papitos Jerk Corner, off Constant Spring Road.