Drae Star taking his career into the spotlight

As 2021 nears, new artistes are waiting for the spotlight to be turned on them.

But modern dancehall newcomer Drae Star says he is lighting a path into the music industry for himself.

"I am passionate about my craft and music, and I want to be able to be able to reach the people who are listening, just as those who come before me were able to reach to me," said Drae Star, who added that he was very inspired by the work of entertainers Sanchez and Buju Banton.

It was the sounds of Sanchez's version of Amazing Grace that actually motivated Drae Star to pursue music.

He told THE STAR, "I wanted to touch the hearts and souls of people just like he did. Though it was thought to be a gospel track, I followed his career and it introduced me to his catalogue which spanned reggae and dancehall. The way it touch me as a youth, I only wanted to push more for the career I wanted."

Drae Star actually started dabbling in music at age 12, singing regularly with his Seventh-day Adventist Church children's choir in St Ann, where he was born and raised. Drae Star started to write his own music, but it wasn't all gospel.

"You will find many different sides to Drae Star, after all, he is a different person from Andrae [Johnson], which is my birth name. I am by nature an entertainer and music is my thing, but I try to segregate the two personalities. One is humble, a reasoner, and the other is heavily involved in the business of show business - the act is everything," he said.

ONE SONG

The recording artiste and songwriter has released various dancehall tracks over the past three months, including conscious songs Operation and World Yah, but he said he won't be releasing "a bagga songs one behind the other".

"An artiste can have one song a promote for a year and run the marketing for as long as possible until it gets a big break, like Cheerleader," he said, noting the success of Omi.

Drae Star said his strategy is to have the spotlight on at least one of his projects until it becomes blinding.

"It doesn't matter if I have a big catalogue. People just need to hear good lyrics over a good beat for you to remain in them memory," he said.

He has been promoting the track Ova Yah Suh for exactly one year, and the latest video uploaded to his Vevo channel, Ride, which features several scantily clad females performing risque dance moves, is little over nine months old.

However, the 27-year-old doesn't want spectators to think he is only focused on building a foundation of hardcore or raunchy dancehall for his career.

"I want to take my career further. I never made it just about one set thing. It's for this reason I never took a break from music. It's not easy without any major links or connections, but music is my thing and I am nowhere near where I want to be, which is on the international stages," he said.

Previous releases

Wine for YGF Records, Changes for Cheema Vibez, Soul Survivor, Dat Way, and Ova Yah Suh, produced by Johnson Records.

Greatest lesson learnt

"Never give up on your dreams, for good things come to reality for those who are patient and persistent."

Interesting facts

He wrote, recorded and co-produced his first single, Mama, a tribute to his own mother, at the age of 17.