Delando Colley aims to make timeless music

Reggae singer Delando Colley is not preoccupied with the glitz and glamour of the fast lane. Having thrilled audiences as a contestant in the Digicel Rising Stars talent competition in 2011, he has been steadily carving his name in the industry and curating a body of music which, he says, will stand the test of time. One such song, I See, I Feel, was released in February and denounces the ill-treatment of women and encourages abused female victims to muster up the courage to abandon their quandary.

“I try to write from a perspective of experience, whether I go through it or not. I look on people’s experiences and situations and write from that, or sometimes the inspiration comes from something I see on the road,” Colley told The Gleaner. “ I See, I Feel is about the uplifting of women and appreciating them, which I think is a message people can appreciate.”

The song is produced by Reggae Vibes Music and is being promoted alongside another ode to women, In Love With You, produced by ZJ Dymond.

“I think the music I am putting out now is more refreshing; the songs have a throwback, reggae vibe to it, with a new twist and new sound, so I think that makes them special,” he said.

“People can connect to them, and these tracks will not just last for just four months or a year. Whenever I get a project, my mindset as an artiste and songwriter is to spend time on my music, instead of putting out music for putting out music sake. I don’t want to do music to get a hype, I want to do music that lasts for five, 10 years.”

Since placing third in the competition, Colley has honed his craft by attending the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and released his first single, When Your Love Went Away, in 2012. His catalogue also includes the singles Just Keep Fighting and Better Place, featuring Black Mattic.

He shared that fans can await a new project which he hopes to release soon.