‘Kute and Neat’ gets Sasique deal with international label

Trending sensation Sasique is the second female dancehall recording artiste to announce a major deal with New York-based Payday Records.

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEKEND STAR, she said that more than 10 international companies reached out to secure licensing deals for her single Kute and Neat (Pose).

"I chose to work with Payday Records because of their track record for breaking artistes and their stellar work ethic. The Payday offer was more of what I was looking for because my team and I were not satisfied with a deal that only focused on licensing Kute and Neat," Sasique shared.

"In addition to the licensing and distribution deal, we have just inked an international EP and album deal [so] we are in studio writing, recording and getting prepared for whichever project comes first," she added.

Kute and Neat, which was originally published in 2019, gained popularity last August with more than a million persons, including celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rita Ora as well as the Liverpool Football Club utilising it on TikTok. Though she believed in the potential of her music, Sasique was surprised by all the international stars endorsing it. However, she said the post that burned in her memory and left a mark on her heart is one of a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer.

"To see someone in the hospital, despite going through their difficult situation participating in the trend of making a happy video to my song, was inspiring. Her video also went viral and UK media wrote about her. It melted my heart. I haven't reached out but I reported the video and hope a face-to-face introduction can be made in the future when she is well," Sasique said.

Payday Records was relaunched in 2017, 25 years after it was launched by Ultra Music founder Patrick Moxey. The label distributes its music through Ultra Music in the US and Sony in the UK. Last year, Ishawna signed a record deal with the label and Sasique anticipates it could open doors for them to work together.

"Ishy [Ishawna] a my girl!" Sasique exclaimed. "Me love her from mawning, more so, I relate to her in many ways since we share the same birth month."

"I really feel Payday is just looking for great artistes out of Jamaica, not just females, but artistes who they think can do something for their brand. So if this deal opens door where I could get a collab with her, I would be grateful to contribute to the projects that see two Jamaican female artistes expressing their creative abilities and representing well for our country."

Payday is known for launching the career of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z among others. Sasique is eyeing the likes of Burna Boy and Solid Star out of Africa and American pop star Chris Brown, with whom she wants to collaborate.

" Kute and Neat really has provided me with opportunities, including spreading my name throughout the dancehall community. I performed at Sting and Eastern Extravaganza and I'm seeing my global fanbase increase by the minute. With this arrangement, my manager and I can actively work on new music knowing that my newly found fanbase is ready and waiting," Sasique said.