Star on the Rise: Tano Free

While most other aspirants make their way into Kingston or Montego Bay to mark their tile on the celebrity floor, Tano Free is trying to break big into the dancehall scene while working in the trucking business in Florida. That considered, he assures stardom is just one great song away, and that as he continues on his 16-year musical journey, Florida is just a stone's throw away.

"It's the same, it's no different, because the music circulates. Everything that happens in Jamaica, Floridians know it better than the rest of the states in America. Florida is like in the Caribbean same way," Tano Free told THE STAR.

Tano Free has been living in Florida for the last five years. Still in the 'Caribbean', he perceives himself closer to the centre of dancehall than the miles say.

And further still, the 30-year-old father of seven does not take that closeness for granted, and tries his best to keep abreast with the music industry and all his children, all while making his own presence on the scene known through social media.

"Five years ago, it was hard. Now it's easy. I wouldn't want to brag and say the words 'cake walk', but now it's more affordable and easy to maintain every kid, and make sure everybody is alright financially. Even my mom. Mi nah guh take the credit until mi see mi complete the dream house for my mother. Whether music gets me there or not, it will be done," he said.

So the journey for this Star on the Rise continues.

"The goal is to get my voice out there to the public, and let everybody know who Tano Free is. I believe that my lyrics stand a chance," he said.

Tano Free's musical journey began at age 14, with the encouragement of older heads.

"The artiste who took me in the music was an artiste they called the Vibes Man. He's the person who took me out of my house and bring me to the first studio. He used to always pass by and hear me singing," Tano said.

That first studio he jammed in was in Ackee Walk, where he met artistes like Fantan Mojah, Wayne Marshall and Nicky B. Along the way, he has also recorded in Cell Block Studio.

As time went by, he became a father who needed a steadier income than being an aspiring artiste could provide.

Now confident that he is stable enough to take care of his children and his mother, Tano Free is anxious to establish similar stability and confidence in his music career.

And he thinks Florida is a great place to do it.

"Americans love Jamaican music, it's just that they're trying to get more acquainted with our words. But they love the beat. When they hear it, it's like soca to them. Dem start move," he said.

Releases: Bagga Things, Bigmatic (soon to be released), Money Over B*tches

Inspirations: Bounty Killer, Neil (producer, Cashflow Records) and most of all, Flippa Mafia. "Da bredda deh do a whole heap and mi respect him. Mi nah guh stop thank him. I'm very close with his family too. He's one of the biggest inspirations I have so far."

Interesting Fact: Tano Free's seventh child claims Dominican and Jamaican heritage.