Don Blamma eager for international success

Aspiring dancehall artiste Don Blamma says that being inspired by his father to pursue music, he believes his high level of positivity and versatility will drive him closer to achieve international success.

The Spanish Town, St Catherine, native said he realised his passion for singing from the age of nine, through the musical influences that surrounded him. His father and uncle were musicians and associates of Bob Marley.

"When mi was around dem age deh, mi fadda dem used to have guitars and mi used to have bands inna mi house when mi fadda and him team a work. Suh mi used to go pon di mic and get fi love di mic. Suh a dem time deh mi discover seh dah ting yah mi really want," Don Blamma told THE STAR.

He said that after realising his talent, he kept on nurturing it through the strong motivation from his father.

"Mi fadda neva really finish out di music journey suh him always mek mi know seh 'Yow, yuh have di talent suh mi waah yuh dweet'. Suh mi fadda keep me motivated, miself mostly too, and mi woman and [mi friend] QuefaDon," said Don Blamma with a smile. He added that his brother, who's also an artiste, plays a huge role in influencing his career as well.

As chaotic as the musical scene may sound, Don Blamma said he remained focused, "current and fresh" while still producing music that's impacting the world.

"Mi have people a bawl to mi 'bout [mi] song name Believe. Mi have a specific [friend] weh literally cry to me and seh 'It come een like a me yuh build dah song yah fah dawg, it come een like a me yuh a talk bout'. Dah song deh did reach quite an amount a people all inna Africa and it touch a lot a people because [it] was about reality and mi just a chat how mi feel at the moment," he expressed. The singjay, whose given name is Najair Bennett, said a few of his other songs creating a positive impact are the recently released Changes and 25/8.

"Nuff people never expect fi hear a man like me come out with such type of [positive] music and songs like, Changes, because dat [song] really a speak bout life and reality - how people weh yuh grow up wid switch pon yuh and dem thing deh hurt yuh feelings. [It speaks] to wah a gwaan inna mi life currently and mi know seh a miself a really mi biggest strength and [mek yuh] know seh yuh affi know who fi trust," said Don Blamma. He has been honing his craft professionally for over seven years.

As he looks to expand his talent, Don Blamma opined that his unique musical qualities and creativity will help to propel him to higher heights.

"Wi nuh stick wiself inna one genre a music [and] mi have multiple voices too, and wi duh every type a music. And dat ago mek mi standout," he said. Don Blamma said that his end goal is to "reach international and do some collab with some a dem big international artistes".

"Mi waah mek millions outta music suh mi family dem can good [and achieve] everything weh mi dream [about] and desire," he said.

The up-and-coming artiste is excited about his upcoming single, which he said will be 'part two' to Changes, which has garnered more than one million likes and 12,000 views on YouTube since its release over a week ago.