Selecta Pull It - Olaf brings back original dancehall vibe

Olaf Blackwood has been shaking up the international music scene, penning hits for megastars such as Akon, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Spice, Joss Stone, Mya, Rose McGowan and Lindsay Sterling. His latest track with Shaggy, 'Selecta Pull It', is taking dancehall fans back to the roots.

In an exclusive with THE STAR, Blackwood explained how Selecta Pull It came about.

"That song was written in San Francisco couple years ago, while I was working on my reggae album that Shaggy is producing," he revealed. "We had about 14 songs, and Shaggy said that we needed something that kinda bring us back to the dancehall sound system era. We came up with the idea, and that was the genesis of the song."

The St Elizabeth-born artiste says the song takes listeners back to classic Jamaican dancehalls, where it was all about moving to the music with your dance partner - no flashy bottles, no social media, just pure vibes.

"The song takes us back to what dances were like in the past when man dance with dem woman and ting. The emphasis wasn't placed on outfits, bottles, social media, and crews. It's about living in the moment."

As for working with Shaggy, Blackwood calls it an education like no other. "Shaggy is a perfectionist, and you cannot be thin-skinned when you are working with him. He really means well and will not stop until he brings out the best in you. He will tell you as it is, and he is also a gimmicks man as well," Blackwood laughed.

But Selecta Pull It isn't his first rodeo. Blackwood's biggest hit so far, I Need You, a pop-EDM track co-written with mega-producer Fernando Garibay, has put him on international stages. Yet, Blackwood is determined to keep it real with his Jamaican roots.

"We live in an instant gratification world where everything is about going viral. A lot of people is doing a lot of stuff, but where is the impact? I just stay true to what I am doing," he said passionately.

"I started out on sound system, and that is why I opted to do an authentic reggae album. My identity is key, and I wanted the world to know that."