iotosh named one of Pandora’s ‘Artistes to Watch 2023: Caribbean’
Published:Thursday | January 12, 2023 | 12:44 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
Producer, songwriter and artiste iotosh has only been getting a few hours of sleep daily; on average, five hours, he says. It’s a sleeping pattern he has become accustomed to since his music career kicked off and he is sure that all the time spent in front of studio equipment is paying off.
He is credited on OUT:SIDE, a collaborative project of Runkus and Toddla T, as well as the Grammy Award-nominated albums, Third Times The Charm by Protoje, and Gifted by Koffee, all of which were named in Rolling Stone’s ‘100 Best Albums of 2022’ last December.
“It can be demanding sometimes,” iotosh said in his interview with The Gleaner. “It also depends on the project; for example, when finishing the mixing process on Protoje’s album, I slept maybe four hours total in three days because we were working on a strict deadline.”
He was also named Producer of the Year by a New York-based digital media house called Pulse, and listed in Pandora’s ‘Artistes to Watch 2023: Caribbean’.
“I don’t do music for achievements. I know the value of what I been doing, but of course, those things make other people know the value. I’m just honoured anybody, whether small or big, local or international, would consider highlighting my work.”
The mention came at an opportune time, as iotosh is planning to release more music as a recording artiste. His singles Reasons and Fee Fi Foe have not reached their full potential, but “to be recognised by Pandora, a huge streaming platform for Caribbean artistes, it shows me people are listening and have their ears out for what I have to say.”
“I really have dedicated majority of time to my production career, and it has done amazing things for me in terms of financially and the accolades I’ve earned in a short time, but then I’m left to wonder if I’m neglecting one side of myself. Fee Fi Fo surpassed my expectations. I have songs written down, and those that have been finished but not released …. I feel it is a disservice to the talent because, who knows, some of these songs could have a profound impact on a lot of persons,” iotosh shared.
“It can be [overwhelming], I can be a very anxious person and get caught up in my head sometimes – meaning with the idea of things rather than the execution, [so] I think, for this year specifically, it’s going to be about making a big effort to give that side of my artistry [the] majority of my energy.”
Will he be able to balance the roles, as well as his professional life with his personal? He said, “I’ve lived it, I’ve been living it, and I’m trying to find that balance every day. And it may be hard to achieve, but I’m hoping to strike it this year.”
At the same time, the multifaceted creative is supporting fellow Sound Ting label mate Kyraxx to build momentum around an upcoming EP, for which he is handling the production entirely. With their most recent project, Dat Lovin’, which combines the talent and vocals of Kyraxx and Zac Jone$, iotosh said that it is forging a new path.
It is the second single of a project they have been working for the last four years, he revealed, and it was officially released today.
“It is an upbeat song; it is danceable, it tells a sad story in a sense, but at the same time, on a deeper level for me, it is a song that alleviate that sad feeling and is relatable,” iotosh explained.
He further explained that the sound he and Kyraxx have created will capture the dancehall audience mostly. He has been recognised globally for music that has been primarily reggae, and has expressed a desire to delve into dancehall.
“The production catalogue is definitely filled with reggae, but I want to dabble into our other genre. Dancehall is Kyraxx’s Jamaican music go-to, and I thought it the right time for us to put out a project that falls into that category. I’ve done a lot of work with great artistes over the past few years, simultaneously, I’ve been doing a lot of personal development in terms of getting a better idea of what I’m into…this is me trusting that and being confident that the work we’re doing can transcend into other spaces,” iotosh said.