Hakeem is ready for the spotlight

Up-and-coming reggae artiste Hakeem is looking forward to a bright future in music.

"Anywhere I perform I always receive a positive response from the audience. Oftent people ask me if I did voice training; they are always surprised when I tell them no. The ability to sing sweet melodies comes to me naturally. It's a gift from the Creator," said the Westmoreland-born artiste. Hakeem, who lists Lila Ike and Chronixx among his musical influences, is signed to the Canada-based label BGB Record.

"I was introduced to the owners of BGB Record by a family member earlier this year. They were very impressed after listening to me sing a few songs and decided to sign me. Since I began working with them, my career has begun to move forward," said Hakeem.

He is currently promoting his debut single titled Love Calling Me. The song, which was produced by Raphael Foster and Adrian Shippy, was released on the BGB imprint in August.

"My first single is out and my team is confident that it will be a hit. We're putting a lot of promotion behind it, and the feedback that we are getting is very positive," he said. Also in the pipeline is his debut album.

"Writing new songs and going to the studio frequently to record is a great adventure for me. This is a dream come true. I'm finally doing what I've always wanted to do," he said.

Hakeem, given name Hakeem Anderson, hails from Burnt Savannah and is a past student of Little London High School.