Ex-con seeks to spread positivity as music producer

After serving 12 years behind bars, former cop Oshane Anderson said his experiences drove him into a fulfilling world of "positivity" as he now embraces a new life as a music producer.

Anderson said drawing from the lessons learnt from prison, helped him to realise he was destined to bring a positive change to society.

"There was a programme that we learn [called] 'Change your thinking, change your life'. That was a good programme that teaches you to be positive. It basically teaches you that 'if you have a negative mindset, then negative things will happen, and if yuh have a positive mindset, then positive energy will flow back to you," Anderson told THE STAR. He added that, while adapting to those principles and demonstrating a positive attitude, he was "praised" by even other prisoners who encouraged him to display the same personality upon his release.

In 2015, Anderson was shot in the knee while attempting to rob a National Commercial Bank customer of $5 million outside the Black River, St Elizabeth, branch. Anderson, who was stationed in Clarendon, said that though the situation was unfortunate, he tries not to live with regrets.

"I try to move forward. So I do not try to look back on the past and hold my head down. I try to keep my head high - at all times. So even when mi deh inside prison, mi excel, mi adapt and mi excel to any environment," said Anderson.

After serving his time, Anderson shared that though he's still faced with discrimination, he never allowed that to change his positive mindset.

"Mi hear people seh [things like] 'Dem neva send mi guh teef' but mi nuh mek dat affect me. If mi did call dem and gi dem a money out of it and seh 'That's what I did,' dem wudda alright, but because mi get caught and everybody see it why dem waah criticise but I'm okay," a calm Anderson stated.

Anderson said he has transformed his life and is ready to explore his passion for music.

"From mi used to go [high] school, I mostly used to listen rap. I even used to do a little rapping myself," he chuckled. "Even when I write poetry and [recite it] it sound like a rap mi a rap," said Anderson. "While I was in prison, I met some producers who seh 'Guh do music man, music is good and yuh can mek money off it."

He admitted that he's still learning but released his first project, the 'Limitless' rhythm in October 2022. It featured up-and-coming acts such as JayOne The Optimist with Prayer Works, and Scenatro with Perilous Times. Anderson shared that the rhythm has been creating a wave of "positive impact" with other artistes expressing great interest in it. He expressed hope of working with established superstars such as Vybz Kartel, Yaksta and Chronic Law.

"Vybz Kartel is a person who mi look up to because him lyrical -mi have him as the most talented artiste right now. With Yaksta, there were some songs I listened to from [him] while I was in prison that was like a relief fa me and even Chronic Law as well," said Anderson. However, he said his immediate focus is on producing more reggae, gospel and gospel-reggae tracks as he's trying to focus more on positive music.

He is also using his platform to creating space for up-and-coming artistes within Clarendon.

"I feel good in doing it because while growing up, I saw many persons who are very talented and haven't been given the chance. So for me to do this now, I believe I'm creating an opportunity for them ... because I've listened to some of the guy's music from Clarendon and their music is good, dem just naah get the exposure weh dem need," he shared. He also opined that it keeps 'idle hands' youngsters out of criminality.

On that note, he stressed the importance of "self-love" and the need to remain on a clean and upright path.