Knavi sets eyes on being dancehall’s next star

Fast-rising musician Knavi has been knocking on the door of stardom for years; however, he believes his time has finally come to be Jamaica's next major talent, after the release of his single, Meech Out.

Knavi, given name Navyan Williams, shared the 'star qualities' that he believes he possesses to be the 'next big thing'.

"Look pon di style," a cheerful Knavi said as he shows off his flashy watch and fancy decorated blazer jacket. "Just the image and the style and mi swag overall because I mean, mi nuh boast and gwaan like mi betta dan people, mi humble but wi serious, determine and aggressive at di same time."

He said his musical progression was not an overnight process but a gradual one of hard work.

"It mean seh the work finally a pay off because wi always stay dedicated to the craft and to the music. Suh seeing the results and seeing that people finally a appreciate my talent is a great feeling, motivation, and it inspire me fi go harder. My style different suh yuh know people nuh normally grasp to things weh dem ears nuh used to and dem nuh accustomed to. Suh people finally a see seh dah yout' yah different, him hybrid," he said.

"Right now me song dem a play day and night. It is a joy to see when yuh put in the work and a see di fans dem a embrace yuh ting. I must say respect to my team and to every selector, radio deejay, dancer, influencer and all my supporters overall," the singer added.

Knavi, a past prefect of the Rusea's High School in Hanover, said he is a "born leader" who knows 'street codes' but always has a passion for music. At school, he often performed at class parties, barbecues and fun days, but in 11th grade, one of his many freestyles went viral, which led to his first professional recording.

Since then, he has released several tracks such as 12 Signs, Bad Boy and Balmain Bomber, all of which he said created an impact especially in his home town and surrounding parishes in western Jamaica.

However, Meech Out is the song that has done "the most damage" islandwide, racking up an impressive 453,000 streams on YouTube in just 20 days after its release. Knavi credits the single's stronger, motivational message for its huge success.

"If yuh compare nowadays to like five years ago, a lot of young people never used to drive and wi parents did have things different like a decade ago and back. Suh the fact seh young people get creative and dem a use social media and online fi do things fi demself, dem a drive and a own house. Suh everybody feel like dem accomplished. Suh the whole aspect behind Meech Out is just saying 'I am accomplished'," he said. "Mi believe inna manifestation so even if you're not there yet, just see yuhself doing it and it will just manifest itself eventually."

Knavi described his style as "authentic", and opined that he is creatively talented to crossover into any genre. His true inspiration comes from his "aim and vision" to reach further while learning from others' mistakes. He shared that during his journey to stardom, he faced several challenges, especially getting access to studio time, travelling miles to record a song and sleeping days and nights in studios. However, he now owns a recoding label, Knavi Entertainment.

"Music [for me] just come effortlessly. A nuh supm weh mi duh fi money, is like, when I'm locked in the studio, mi can't tell di difference between day and night. That's how much mi love it - mi just connect to music and that's what I'm good at," a passionate Knavi said.

He encouraged aspiring entertainers not to give up or compare themselves to others.

"Don't try too hard - just let it flow. Flow with the energy and just dweet from yuh heart. Don't dweet because yuh waah get rich, just be true to the music, be authentic and speak the true message," said Knavi.