Leighton Levy, Star Writer

Matthew Mitchell is hoping to make a big splash in more ways than one come tonight at the Collection MoDA showcase set for The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.

The 24-year-old singer will debut a remix of his latest single and he will also be modelling the creations of a top local designer. He hopes both pursuits will be well received. "I will be previewing a remix of my latest single, which is like a 90s house remix, and I will be walking for Andrew Rowe, and showing my face," he said.

Greater credibility

Mitchell, who goes by the stage name Machu Ezra, just released a video, Make You Week in which Miss Jamaica Universe Kaci Fennell makes an appearance. The video was shot at Fort Rocky near Port Royal where the singer won J$250,000 in October 2013 in the Heineken Inspire contest.

The win, he said, has helped him a lot as he pursues his singing career. "It definitely has helped me. It has elevated who I am as an artiste. It has given me greater credibility and has made industry people more receptive to my sound and the difference that I am bringing to Jamaican music," he said.

Since that time, he has been invited to perform at the Blue Mountain Music Festival at Hollywell in February this year and at the Earth Hour concert at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre this past summer. He also recently performed on popular morning television show Smile Jamaica.

Mitchell is also focused on the release of his EP in early December. Titled Songs in Paradise Volume 1, the EP, he said, will be a collection of "different sounds, reggae fusion" that he hopes will give his emerging career an even greater boost.