Lila Ikè Calls For More Collabs Between Dancehall & Reggae Artistes
For Jamaican music to rise, there must be more collaboration between artistes in dancehall and reggae. This is the opinion of rising songstress Lila Ikè, who shared her views on the topic while answering a question during her takeover of the Clarks Original Instagram page.
The session was held yesterday, and Ikè, known for her fiery personality, shared her feelings on the two genres sharing the same space. She was responding to a question about what she would like to happen in the industry at this time.
Lila said: “I guess it would be how different artiste interact with each other.”
“Just the concept that Reggae over ya so and Dancehall ova ya so. You know I would love for more reggae and dancehall artiste to be in the studio together working collectively.”
If this were to happen, it would have a significant positive impact on Jamaican music, she added.
“That, I think, is something that would have a major effect on the music coming out of Jamaica for sure.”
Ikè fielded many questions throughout the session from curious fans like questions about the guitar, which she was using. She explained that it was a gift to her from her manager Protoje and it helped her to get into the right zone when approaching music.
She also revealed that her favorite type of Clarks was the Desert Boot, which has been popular in Jamaica for many years. Her love of Clarks came from watching her grandfather wear them, and she admitted that Vybz Kartel’s love of them also had an influence on her.
The I Spy singer also shared many personal details about her life throughout the session, including the fact she got the scar on her hand because she played with a hot iron when she was younger.
She also recalled that her song Solitude almost didn’t make the cut on her latest EP, The ExPerience, which has topped Reggae charts in the US this week.
“It wasn’t actually going to be on the project, but the producers linked up one night – actually linking up to make another song, and they heard it, and they loved it,” she said. Ike treated fans to some of her unheard music as she paused in between answering questions.
She took the time to express her views on why it’s crucial that women have a positive influence on Jamaican music.
“I do think the whole wave of female artistes is much bigger than music. What it is right now is just an amazing thing to just see women on the forefront of being role models because a lot of young women, especially in Jamaica them loss,” she said. She added Garnet Silk’s famous quote to emphasize her point: “music is the rod, and we [artistes] are Moses.”
“We the creators, whether man, woman, it is our duty to be responsible with the things we’re saying, but not a lot of people are,” she added. The role of women as nurturers must be used to help steer the youth in the right direction, she went on to say.
She added that female artistes like Queen Ifrica, Koffee, and Naomi Cowan are doing their part to pass on positivity to the youth.
Ikè also said that if she wasn’t an artiste, she would have fulfilled her previous dream of being a teacher and educating and molding young minds.
Lila also spoke about her process for songwriting and said that most of her music was something either she experienced or was based on an experience that she was familiar with. She said this was especially true for her song Thy Will.
She ended the Q&A with I Spy. Watch below.
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