The Toronto-based artist is back just in time to drop some good summer vibes.
In a world where musical genres constantly evolve and are in flux, Kwesi Jamaal has hit the sweet spot between the traditional and contemporary. Jamaal has captivated audiences with his unique blend of Afro-fusion sounds by bringing what feels like a breath of fresh air into the music scene.
Hailing from the vibrant city of Toronto, known affectionately as “The Six”, Jamaal expertly weaves and connects the threads of afrobeat, soca, dancehall, hip-hop, and dance-pop music, creating a musical tapestry that has captured the imaginations of listeners everywhere.
With deep roots tracing back to the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Kwesi Jamaal has always stayed true to his roots. Currently based in the multicultural melting pot that is Toronto, he’s stayed tapped into his cultural heritage, taking the scene by storm with his catchy debut single “Afrikan Qween” when it was released in late 2020. He would build on the success of his debut with another banger, “Summer Crush,” the year after, immersing listeners in the sounds of the Caribbean and bringing vibes of sunshine and beaches.
Jamaal’s latest release, “Light It Up,” is an open invitation to let your body sway to the irresistible sounds of a tropical paradise. The smooth, sensual instrumentals for “Light It Up” expertly fuse afrobeat and dancehall sounds to create a sound that will make you move your waistline. As Jamaal sings, “Light it up, I can get you high, light it up, maybe we can touch the sky,” he evokes an incredible desire to dance and move, ensuring the good vibes continue for the future.
As Kwesi Jamaal continues to keep his audiences dancing with his mastery of tropical sounds, it’s clear that he is an artist destined for greatness. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream Kwesi Jamaal’s latest single, “Light It Up,” available now on all major streaming platforms.
Welcome to BuzzMusic, Kwesi Jamaal! We loved “Light It Up;" the playful yet relaxed vibe was something we enjoyed! Could you take us through the creative process for this song?
Thanks, and I love that you vibe with my music! Mid-pandemic, I took a trip to the Dominican Republic; experiencing the culture, beaches, food, and parties impacted me. I remember laying in the hammock on my balcony one day, watching the palm trees blowing in the wind, hearing the buzzing of people on the street with fast cars zooming by, and the melody with lyrics for the first verse came to me.
The storyline flirts with themes of magnetic attraction, freedom to lose oneself in the moment, and the euphoria of energetic highs. Production-wise, my producer, Nate Smith, and I collaborated on the sound. Dancehall and Reggae music was influenced by key instruments like horns, strings, keys, and bass creating melodious sounds. I used vocal harmonies in the pre-chorus and the trance-like instrumental build-up to a climactic chorus. The intention is to give listeners a sensual feeling with climatic breaks to keep the energy vibrant and enjoyable.
You mentioned you have strong Trini roots, but you’re currently based in Toronto. What’s the music scene like in Toronto? Is there a large dancehall influence, and how do you incorporate the spirit of the Trini sound into your music?
Toronto's music scene is thriving! From Rock to Pop to Hip-Hop to Caribbean music and Afrobeats, it’s arguably Canada's mecca for music. Impacting music genres like Dancehall, Soca, and Afrobeats are steadily growing with a diverse and loyal fanbase. Trinidad is mostly known for the Soca and Calypso genres. I was born in Trinidad, and our music is often high energy, party friendly, and contains descriptive storytelling. I fuse my Trini dialect with other musical styles and rhythmic flows in my music. I always make sure to bring the essence of my Trini roots and culture into my music to show the diversity of my people.
Do you have a favorite music-related memory you’d like to share?
Definitely! Many come to mind, but I'd like to share a more intimate music memory to help readers get to know me more personally. As a child living in Trinidad, raised with Caribbean music greats like David Rudder, Bob Marley, and Calypso Rose, I would sit on the floor while my mother cooked meals, listening to music with her and dancing to the rhythms. I would use iron pots and pans as drums, beating them with wooden spoons in sync with the music on the record player. That feeling of performing to an audience of one, then my family and neighbours never left me.
I still get that same hypnotic feeling whenever I hear music today. That feeling helps drive my passion to create music from an internal concept into musical melodies with different instruments when in the studio. Not many people know this about my creative process, but I’ll break it down- I get inspired in 1 of 2 ways; either I hear a beat/music which will inspire lyrics, or I can visualize a story in my mind and create lyrics and a melody to accompany it. I have a genuine love for music, and I'm grateful to have been blessed with this gift. How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?
I label my music as Afro-fusion, a mellifluous fusion of Afrobeats, Soca, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and Dance-Pop sounds. My music's both sensual and energetic and meant to excite you and make you feel like you have to move your body; to connect with others attracted to the vibes. It's a captivating experience that will romance your heart forever, from when the sounds kiss your ears.
What’s next for Kwesi Jamaal? Can we expect to hear more new music soon, and is there anything you want to say to your fans?
In 2023 my mantra is "We Set Di Vibes!” We create energy that impacts our daily lives, environment, and communities. I've returned to the studio motivated to create a musical project (upcoming EP) that will add pure vibes to the soundtrack of my fans' lives! Light It Up is the official single of the upcoming EP scheduled to be released this Summer. To my fans, who I affectionately refer to as my "Vibes Community," much love and gratitude for choosing to grow with me on this musical journey. Thank you for your continued support, and stay tuned for more music and content to enjoy!