STAR On The Rise: Shella aspires to be dancehall’s ‘top star’

Having had the desire to pursue a musical career since he was 10 years old, aspiring artiste Shella is hoping to manoeuvre his way to the top of the entertainment industry.

The 25-year-old, given name is Ottoreece Melhado, told STAR on the Rise, that music is his first love.

But unlike most, he's never envisioned himself anywhere other than on stage performing. He's wanted to be an artiste so badly, that a back-up plan was never part of his reality.

Music called to Shella through old records his grandmother used to play during his childhood.

"Me grandmother usually have this jukebox weh use to play records and yuh use to have instrumental on one side and artistes on the other. Me used to listen the instrumental side and practice a lot and me find mi self just love fi build lyrics," he said. "The more mi listen the music, the more me start flow and the more it drive me to do more. From that day till now, listening to artistes like Buju Banton, me know is a artiste me did wah become."

So determined was Shella that not even possibly disappointing his parents would deter him. He explained that although his parents had their reservations, his hunger to build a career through music made them throw their full support behind him.

"Dem believe inna me 100 per cent and did just support me especially me father. I was even surprised by how supportive they were," he said. "Me know people always say artiste thing nah go no weh and look down on it but dem see say me hungry for it. Inna dem mind I'm sure it was like a gamble for them knowing dat a nuh every artiste a go buss but dem see me determination and mi focus so dem just believe."

Shella initially started his career under the moniker Spentshell. Growing and maturing in the business, the artiste explained that a name change was necessary to create a brand marketable outside of Jamaica.

"Due to di amount a gun lyrics me usually write, dem (people) name me. Dem say me always a fire and lef a impact and it was good that they were remembering me but me did affi change the name when me decide to take things more seriously," he said. "I want to go as far as I can in this business and that name just never marketable. It was relating to guns and violence and all these things and it never did a go work if me wah buss."

Having matured since his first release in 2012, Shella says his sound will set him apart from all other aspiring artistes.

He expressed that rather than being confined to one genre, he will be mixing things up and trying his hands at different styles of music, including reggae, dancehall and pop.

"I just want people to give young artiste a chance because nuff a we have the talent and just need that one opportunity. Don't stifle we thing pan the streets. Listen the music and support it because every big artiste did affi start some where," he said.

Songs currently promoting: Top Star, Walk Away and Special

Inspirations: Buju Banton, Vybz Kartel and Sizzla Kalonji. His dream collab would be with Vybz Kartel because "him style different and he's a lyrical genius."

Interesting Fact: Would love to work with DJ Khaled - "He understands the Jamaican culture and him always keep things real plus him really good at what him do. Him success speak for itself."