5 Questions With... Slashe

The word “multi-talented” is a powerful adjective, but still, it would not suffice when describing entertainer Donald Anderson. Over the past few years, Anderson, formerly known as Iceman, has been making the transition from comedy to music.

Dubbing music his first love, the all-round entertainer told Five Questions With, that he has now stepped away from the comedy realm completely, to focus all his attention on building his career as a recording artiste. Now bearing the moniker Slashe, Anderson, fresh off a five-week tour of Spain, says although the journey ahead “promises to be filled with ups and downs,” he is serious about carving out his own space in the music industry. Here’s introducing Slashe!

1. What prompted the name change?

Iceman represented a different kind of artiste at that time, and the name change is to re-brand myself into a full-time singer. I’ve been doing music from 2003, but mixing it with a little acting and comedy, and I wanted just a pure stroke for the singer, Slashe, and that’s how the need for that name came. It was just to remove the moniker of Iceman, actor/comedian and usher in a new focus. It is a rebirth, a clean slate.

2. What does a typical day in your life entail?

I’m in the US on vacation now, so a typical day on vacation is sleeping late, waking up, having breakfast and watching TV. I watch copious amount of television, but I’m a sports fan, so relaxing is watching a lot of basketball, going to training in the afternoon, because I like to work out a lot. I don’t really do the gym thing a lot, so basketball is my workout. It’s actually relaxing, going to the studio too, so I’m in the studio a lot.

3. What is your favourite thing about Jamaica?

My favourite thing about Jamaica is Jamaica (laughs). The beauty of the island. We have good people and we have bad people but the island stays the same.

4. What has been the hardest lesson to learn from the music industry?

The Jamaican music industry is a very harsh, bitter and cold industry. People will do their best to hold you back, rather than push you forward. You have to see that as a test and a challenge to get beyond it and keep on keeping on.

5. What’s one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring artiste?

If you don’t have the stomach for it, stay out of it. Music is not just glitz and glamour, it’s not just the chains and the cars and the girls. It’s the work ethic you have to have day by day, night by night, show by show, interview by interview.

Brawta: Can you cook?

I am not a chef and me nuh shame fi tell yuh dat (laughs). I can prepare food but me anuh chef. Basic things like baked chicken and mi likkle white rice and steam down mi likkle fish slice dem wid mi likkle string beans and so. But, the big meal dem like pot roast and dem thing deh, me cant do dem stuff deh. But, me nah go dead fi hungry, me can help myself.