5 Questions with Remone Watson

Remone Watson is proud of his newest title, the 2023 ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ (DSR) winner, and for the past three weeks, the 20-year-old show player at Sandals Montego Bay has been savouring the sound of those words strung together in reference to him.

He walked away from the competition with a cash prize of $1.5 million, a smartphone and credit courtesy of Digicel. Watson shared that although there are many things that he could do with his prize money, right now, the plan is to invest it in his music career.

Watson, who hails from Hanover, is a past student of the Rusea’s High School in Lucea in the parish. He was encouraged to enter ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ by friends and family members who knew that he could sing, and they were so impressed by his talent, that they predicted that he would win the competition.

His first major step into the musical arena was when he ventured into cabaret singing on the coast. Watson has thrilled visitors at Sandals, Iberostar, Hedonism, and Holiday Inn hotels.

This week, 5 Questions With caught up with Watson, who is still in celebration mode.

1. What prompted you to enter ‘Digicel Rising Stars’?

It was something I dreamed of for a while. I have been watching it from I was at Claremont All-Age and Primary and had a goal to one day enter the competition. As I grew older, I wanted to take life a step further with my singing gift, and I saw ‘DRS’ as the platform to share my talents with the world ... and it is paying off already.

2. How d id the robbery of the $200,000 campaign funds the Friday before the grand final of the competition affect you?

To be honest, I cried when it happened. I prayed about it and left it in the hands of God. I was still able to buy some credit needed for voting, but it was not enough. So the night of the finals, I went in there hoping for the best but expecting any outcome.

3. Who in your family is most excited by your win?

Well, my mom is very happy for me ... but I would have to say my grandmother because I grew up with her. She told me, ‘Boy, I am so proud of you’. Hearing those words from her was everything. My grandmother has gone the extra mile for me. She is the person who made me get my first visa, and while I was studying at York University doing online classes, she and I would go to Canada in the summer and go somewhere walking distance from the university so I could do some face-to-face classes.

4. What are some of your best DRS memories?

The make-up room series with Terri [Terri-Karelle Reid] and Alaine was unforgettable. I made a whole new family.

And after I won the competition, I saw myself on my university page. York University actually reposted on their social media pages a clip from an interview that I did, and I was shocked. I didn’t even know that York remembered me.

5. Now that you are a winner, what is the plan going forward?

Originally, it was law, but music is what I’ll do solely. I really want to get some music out there for the people who believe in me and voted for me. I am also interested in doing motivational speaking and am setting up my company/brand, Becoming Me.

BRAWTA

Who are the artistes you would like to work with?,

I would love to work with Romain Virgo, Tessanne, Brown Shuga ... for starters. I see that becoming a reality and I must say a big thank you to Jamaica for supporting me throughout the competition and helping me to push through all the negative comments.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com