Mackie Conscious yearns for his break

Reggae artiste Mackie Conscious is hopeful his recent single, Brighter Day, will provide much-needed impetus for his career, which has struggled to get into high gear since he broke onto the scene two decades ago.

The track features veteran reggae artiste Luciano, whose presence Mackie Conscious hopes will be a catalyst for its success. Determined that he needed to collaborate with an international artiste, the western Jamaica-based entertainer said he waited a year for Luciano to add his voice to Brighter Day after he penned the lyrics for the song.

Mackie Conscious, whose given name is Dennis McKay, stated that he has an extensive repertoire of songs that he has recorded and released over two decades, but lamented the fact that he has not enjoyed the sort of success that he has been hoping for. He said his arsenal of songs helped to get him on Reggae Sumfest as a performer, but due to a lack of airplay he is unable to boast about a massive hit.

"I can only afford to do good songs and strong songs," he said.

But the entertainer laments that while he songs are played on radio, they do not get the heavy rotation that he feels is required for them to melt the hearts of music lovers.

He has even entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Popular Song Competition in 2009, 2015 and again in 2018, hoping to build his profile. He said that his aim was "not to win but to make a name, 'cause mi a seh everybody a guh see it".

"But similarly, when you enter festival, it's like your songs are not played on the radio," he said.

Mackie Conscious is adamant that he has consistently recorded good songs throughout his entire career and wonders aloud how he is yet to make it in the big league.

"Mi see man disrespect woman and reach number 1. Man sing offkey and bus, some bus wid songs weh nuh have nuh lyrics. A just lucky mi nuh lucky," he reasoned.