Star Cole shines bright through unplanned obstacles

Dancehall recording artiste Star Cole was noticeably absent from New York's recording and live-performance scene in 2014, but many assumed it was an immediate reaction to the passing of her mentor, Philip Smart.

Smart was a renowned engineer and hit-making producer whose Long Island-based studio was dubbed the hub for reggae and dancehall in the tri-state area.

Star Cole admitted that the death of Smart, who she affectionately calls 'Uncle Phil', was the start of a very difficult time in her recording career. But she was absent because she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and life-threatening disorder of the skin and mucous membranes.

"I was in a medically induced coma for three weeks. Not only did I have to miss his funeral, at the same time I was having to endure hypersensitivity of my immune system, swollen airway and skin discolouration, which made me become very conscious of my appearance, and for an artiste that is part of who you are," Star Cole told THE WEEKEND STAR. "My image was my everything, and it took several years to fully heal. By the time I was ready to give my all to recording, everything mash up. Without Uncle Phil, the studio ceased to exist."

She recorded several songs with Smart and Bryan Morris, including her debut single, Never Gonna Let You Down.

The singjay, given name Stacia Cole, says she is yet to find another studio within her reach that operates like a family and is dedicated to its artistes' careers, like the one Smart ran.

Drastic move

She added, "I have considered returning to Jamaica in search of that, but my immediate family is in America. And I am yet to have a breakthrough there, so I would have to make certain connections before I make such a drastic move. But it will happen because I don't plan to let my supporters down."

The singjay recorded with Billboard-charting dancehall artiste Xyclone on a track called Tell The Truth during her critical months of recovery in 2016.

But she had to take another hiatus from her recording career. Currently recovering from a recent surgery unrelated to her diagnosis, Star Cole is presently promoting the four-year-old track, along with a new production titled I Don't Care.

"Nothing beats my previous bout of illness. Even in the past three months I have had two blood transfusions for another medical issue, and I am not allowing that to cast a shade. I didn't grow up in want of anything, but one thing I was urged to do, is to work hard. Even though my family would have preferred me to take the college route, I have been magnetically drawn to dancehall," she said. "What Uncle Phil taught me, to put my all into what I believe in, will not go to waste."