Vanzo still working on his music

Former Magnum Kings and Queens of the Dancehall contestant Vanzo received a fresh reminder of grief during a recent interview with THE WEEKEND STAR.

The entertainer, who lost his father, Delton McLean, on February 27, 2021, was in disbelief that a year had almost passed and started to reflect on his valuable teachings.

"My father has always been supporting me and my love for music. Both parents were; my mom [Doreen McLean] who is still alive and well, would often do duets with him. She would sing and he would play the keyboard," Vanzo said. "My father taught me how to play the keyboard and instilled lessons of persistence. He was in recovery mode after about getting three strokes [so] it was surprising when he died. He started to move around and one morning he just lost his breath. I have yet to do a song for him, but I will in the future; same for my mother."

Vanzo placed third in the Magnum competition in 2017 and though he has yet to receive a major international hit, he has been fully committed to his recording career.

"I am not the type of person that like to just sit back and watch. I am one who believes that the best is out there and yet to come. Luckily, I have never had to complain about the money part of the business. I have only been doing music and working primarily on my career from 2017 to this day," he said. "True ... sometimes nothing ah gwaan ... all two months without anything but I have managed to survive from savings, from shows and dubplates I did."

He has won over producers both here and abroad. Locally, Arif Cooper produced two of Vanzo's songs, namely Mi Good and Relationship Goals, and Vanzo is now managed by French recording label Street Machine Production. The label is responsible for the recent recording and release of the artiste's single Rumours, a spin-off from the Gregory Isaacs hit of the same title. He said that the 'Cool Ruler's song is at the top of his throwback list.

REGGAE-CENTRED

"I performed the track during the competition and persons had asked if I would do an official cover. For my take, instead of speaking to propaganda being spread about ganja, I spoke to rumours involved in relationships, about a girl," Vanzo shared. Along with the label, the artiste is now compiling songs for his debut album. Rumours gave persons the impression that Vanzo has shifted to reggae music and that the album will be reggae-centred.

"But the truth is, reggae and dancehall are family, and whenever I feel inspired, it could be either genre or even R&B, I'm going to do it. Persons can expect more reggae and more dancehall too," he said. Though the album is still untitled, he is leaning towards 'Wash Belly or 'Mamzy Wash Belly', which is a nickname for his mother.

"One thing persons can be sure of is that there is going to be a mixture of all genres, even Mexican or Latino-type music," Vanzo said.