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BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
I-Octane
by kern carter
Higher Level
You are a truly unique artist in that
your music is able to resonate on
all platforms, be it dance hall or
“conscious.” How do you maintain
that balance?
I just try to keep it positive whether I’m
singing dancehall or Reggae, I ensure
that people can relate to my songs and
always in a clean way. I don’t believe I
have to say certain things to make my
point. That way everyone can enjoy my
music.
Your stage shows are powerful to
watch. How are you able to make that
connection with a live audience?
You see when I touch the stage no
matter where in the world or to
how much people I always go into a
different zone or frame of mind the
minute I hear the MC announce my
name. So honestly I couldn’t explain
to you how I do it. I just know being on
stage is everything to me so I always
give it my all.
You’ve been part of significant brand
campaigns, which is not typical for
many reggae artists. Why do you feel
that brands have identified you as
having influence over culture?
Well my music is clean, it has a message
and everyone can relate to it. But most
importantly my team ensure that I am
a package, not just a talented youth. In
other words am a marketable artiste
and I have a very professional team so
companies have no issue working with
me. What can I say; companies need
faces that can sell their products and I
guess have one of those faces lol
You are considered a leader of this
generation of reggae artists. Is that
how you see yourself?
Well I just do good music and hope
people will love and appreciate it. I do
not do it to be on top nor to be a leader
per say, but if others see me as a leader
then I’m honoured to be seen in that
light.
Do you feel any pressure to be a
role model and to hold yourself
accountable for the lyrics in your
music?
No man, no pressure. I keep it 100%
all the time. I know today people will
love and look up to you but tomorrow
just like that for whatever reason they
forget about you. I’m honoured to
be seen as a role model, but I’m still
grounded about it. I’m not going to let
it get to my head. As it relates to my
lyrics it’s all me. Now and again another
artiste may say change this or add this
while recording. That’s all.
You’ve accomplished a lot in a short
period of time. Where does I-Octane
hope to take his career from here?
I am absolutely grateful for everything
I’m blessed with in my life so far cause
trust me at one point this was all just
a dream for me. But as you may know
I am about to drop my second studio
album titled ‘My Journey’ and honestly
I have put in some serious work into
making it and when it drops on March
4th my team and I are going to put
even more work to promote it so I can
be a Grammy winning artiste and just
keep making good music for the world
to appreciate. Cause as you know
music is probably the most universal
language there is, so if I can keep
spreading positivity thru my music,
then my journey here on earth will be
amazing. And I have so much more to
learn about myself and music itself, so
as I go along you will hear the growth
in my music and that’s all I want to do,
just keep growing.
Big up to Boss magazine and the readers. Much love...
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE
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