Peaches Adaba working for musical breakthrough

A talented product of St Thomas with a "unique and calm" character, are just a few terms fast-rising recording artiste Peaches Adaba uses to describe herself and what she brings to the music scene.

Stepping into the spotlight with her remix of Dexta Daps' Most Wanted single, she said that was when she knew she wanted to do music.

"Originally, we were just hanging out, and they said I should sing the song because they know that I liked it. So I did a cover [version] and two weeks after that, I saw it on the Internet, blowing up [and] getting viral. So I decided to start my musical journey from there... [and] I said, 'Okay, let me start singing,'" shared Adaba, whose given name is Sherese Chisholm. The St Thomas Technical High School graduate said despite the challenges, she is focused on the "growth" of her journey.

Though being musically inspired from a very tender age, she started doing it professionally three years ago with her first release, Guilty Pleasure - which has racked up more than 12,000 likes and just under a million views.

"Growing up in the heart of Morant Bay, there was always music - from the school, block factory, restaurant - suh morning, noon and night [there's] music, suh mi jus' pick it up from the environment," she said, citing artistes such as Michael Jackson, Usher, Destiny's Child and Pharrell Williams as her influences. Her sound is a fusion of dancehall, reggae and R&B, and Abada aims to stand out in this competitive music era with her unique personality.

"Peaches is a calm person and you can hear it in my music. I'm more of a funny, jovial, quirky [type] - I'm just being myself and I feel like that will be an influence to people, to listen to my music and to be a fan," she said. Adaba admitted that though it's sometimes hard for persons to remain true to who they really are in the industry, she is trying "really hard" to keep at it. She added that being a female aspiring to make it in a male-dominated industry is also a challenge.

"Dat part of it is really hard, but you just have to stand your ground and remember why you started doing music. And if yuh love music, continue doing it for the love of music. Don't let because there are obstacles, don't let that deter you from what you love to do," she encouraged. She lamented that some of those in power subscribe to an "old-time barter system - [if] you don't have anything to give, then you are not going to get the help". Though the struggles are stifling the careers of some female artistes, Adaba has so far secured a large following in countries such as French Guiana, where she recently opened a show for Aidonia.

She said one valuable lesson that stuck with her is "to be confident, and if you love to do music, just do music".

"Don't enter music for the fame, hype or money because it can trick yuh; just continue to do it for the love," she said. She also warned female artistes against "mixing business with pleasure" as, if they do, "it's no longer business".

Adaba has also dabbled in artiste management and is the co-owner of the recording label Adaba Entertainment - a company, she said, not only designed to create music, but "togetherness and family". With her stage name being coined from her grandmother nicknaming her 'Peachy', the artiste added the African term 'Adaba' as a creative way to showcase her personality.

The 26-year old, who is known for other singles such as De Stress, Bad For You and Bonnie & Clyde, said within the next five years she hopes to "better myself in music".