I never liked doing comedy – Iceman

Donald ‘Iceman’ Anderson is turning a new page in both his life and career. In a recent interview with The Gleaner, Anderson, more popularly known as a comedian, made a shocking revelation. While pointing out that he has no regrets about his time spent telling jokes, he confessed that he never really loved comedy, as he was always in love with music.

“I never liked comedy. I never liked doing comedy. Comedy was just a part of my personality, and it was just a formula that was supposed to bring me back to the music, and it didn’t work,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to achieve international stardom as a singer. Comedy was just the natural person that I am. I am a fun-loving person. I don’t like confrontation, me like give joke, but it was always music that I loved.”

Iceman, who now goes by the moniker Slashe, told The Gleaner that comedy was supposed to be a gateway to his musical career – a stepping stone to get to where he really wanted to be. “The formula was to do some comedy stints and at the end of the comedy, do some songs. It was supposed to gain me exposure as a singer, but I cannot honestly say now that it worked. Once I started out as a comedian, people had no room for me as a singer. People came to those shows to laugh, not to hear melodies, so it kinda nullified the formula,” he said, pointing out that if he had a do-over, he’d go about things differently.

Well aware that it will take some time for the Jamaican audience to get used to the idea of him as a recording artiste, Slashe says he is not worried. He says people will either follow him into this new phase of his life, or allow themselves to be stuck in an era of his life he has let go. “In Jamaica, people tend to box you in and whatever they see you as, that’s what you are and they don’t give any scope for any other level of creativity. Some people just won’t be able to accept you in any other creative element, but those people are going to have to either come along with me on this new journey or dem stay.”

STEADY PROGRESS

With that said, Slashe revealed that he has been making steady progress as a musician, particularly on the international scene. “I recently completed a five-week, promotional tour in Catalonia, Spain. I did about 10 shows over there and it was a huge success. It was all me, and the people loved it. I have the footage on all my social media pages for the people to see for themselves,” he said. “Some Jamaicans have come along for the ride, but I get the most love, the most support and the most airplay overseas. My biggest fan base is overseas. People nuh know me overseas and dem just a rail fi me because dem have a genuine love for the music. They don’t care who is delivering it.”

Still, Slashe would love to get his own people on his side. “It would be nice if the Jamaican public came on-board, but I can’t force them. It would be nice if they gave me a chance and listened to my music, but I also understand that you are never a king in your own country,” he said.

Slashe is currently promoting the track, titled Support.