11-year-old Tashae Silvera working towards music career
Published:Sunday | December 22, 2019 | 12:00 AMStephanie Lyew - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Most children look forward to the holidays to get a break from the day-to-day tasks of preparing for school and mandatory completion of assignments, but for Tashae Silvera, she is putting in more work to secure her future career.
From her guest appearance performing alongside her idol, Romain Virgo, at Reggae Sumfest last July – then at 10 years old – and subsequently recording the conscious single Dutty Man, Tashae has captured the hearts of many reggae music lovers.
Now 11 years old, Tashae says she can be proud to have performed on the same stages as some of the greats of the genre, having also joined Virgo at Tarrus Riley’s Let Live Music Live last Wednesday night. Next to Jamaican soul singer Sherieta Lewis and songbird Nadine Sutherland, she was one of the few female acts to bring the audience to their feet and even evoke tears.
“Christmas is good so far although I am not so sure what it will bring,” Tashae said following her performance of Dutty Man as several onlookers moved from the seating area to the stage.
Overwhelmed by the show of support, she admitted, “I messed up at the last part I got confused,” which was only noticeable by some individuals because she turned to look at Virgo and the band as they encouraged her not to stop.
“I am feeling good … it is unexplainable,” Tashae told The Gleaner.
Of her career as a singer, she added, “Right now, I want to take it far, to the next level.”
Her number-one cheerleader, her mother, Carlesha Scott, said: “I will be there to support her on the big stage shows or any place for that matter.”
Excited for the new year and what the opportunity has provided for Tashae, Scott revealed plans to take her daughter to as many live concerts throughout the Christmas break as possible so that she can gain exposure and maybe even get a chance to perform.
She also hinted at the possibility of Tashae recording a new song over the holidays in time for next year.
“It is a song about trying again – she demonstrated this in her own performance tonight – if you feel like giving up, you must not stop. She sang it before, but we have not found the right riddim yet or the title to record it officially,” Scott shared.
Come 2020, on the morning of January 1, Tashae will perform the song at Funfest at Hope Gardens. She hopes to overcome her nerves to deliver the potential track and Dutty Man again.
“Anywhere she wants to go, once we can get there and it is suitable for her, I promise to take her,” she said.
“The environments may be unpredictable, but as for my child, I am there to protect her. I believe every child should be given a chance to explore their talents whether it is in music or sports … once it is positive, and as long as she stays in the genre she is in and it does not affect her school work, I am all for it.”