Ashanique Watson’s ‘Rising Stars’ journey solidifies music ambitions
Third-place finisher diving head-first into entertainment career
Published:Wednesday | October 2, 2024 | 12:08 AMKenrick Morgan/Gleaner Writer
This year’s third-place finisher in the ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ competition, Ashanique Watson, has always had inklings about being a singer/performer.
But it was putting her talents to the test week after week while keeping the audience (and judges) entertained during her time on the popular talent show that really put all her doubts to bed.
“I am definitely plunging into the music. This experience has shown me that I really don’t want to be working a 9 to 5. It has been [a] life-long dream to be an entertainer, to travel the world and to make people happy with my music,” Watson told The Gleaner.
“And to be told night after night that ‘OMG, you are amazing’ or ‘You sound so good and make things happen to people when you sing’, it’s kind of this reassurance that I am really doing what I’m supposed to,” she continued.
Watson gracefully made her exit out of the competition for the second time this season. She was first let go during the week seven elimination round but was brought back on as a ‘Producer’s Pick’.
“When I came to rehearsals that week [when I was first eliminated], I felt it … because I started getting sick from overexertion. As you know, based on the demand of it all, there really is no time to rest. I was working Mondays to Fridays and then I’m going to the studio Saturdays and Sundays,” Watson explained.
“So, on top of being really sick, I didn’t get the chance to campaign as much – my team works full-time jobs as well and can’t be out on the road as much as we would have liked to … it was a really rough week,” she continued.
Watson says she cried a little after getting the heartbreaking news. “I just felt like I wasn’t done, and like I was coming into my own… .”
Being about to rebound from this and make it back to the Top 10 would have been a dream come through for anyone in her shoes, and Watson is encouraging everyone watching to take the leap of faith.
“I’ve been afraid before; [at] the beginning of the competition, I was reserved and shy and really didn’t know what to do with this talent. But working with the producer and musical director I broke out of my shell … and I realised I didn’t have to be afraid anymore,” she told The Gleaner.
“My advice to everyone watching is to take that first step by faith. Sometimes you just need that one person in your corner telling you to do it, then trust that person, trust the process and take that leap of faith,” Watson said.
The talented singer leaves behind the fearsome Akeen Fennell and the vote-getting machine Renecia Bernard to battle it out at the finals come October 6.