Interview: After 15 Years In, Konshens Is Back In A ‘Money-Making Mood’ With ‘Red Reign’

Fifteen years in the game is no mean feat but Dancehall star Konshens sounds assured and effortless as ever with detours in Afrobeats, Urbano, Trap, EDM, Roots Reggae, Soca, and more on his fifth studio album, aptly titled Red Reign.  Released today (November 12), the 18 track suite is said to mark the start of a new era, and sees the deejay in his most fluid form yet.

If Konshens homed in on his hitmaking cadence on this album, it’s because Red Reign was fueled by exactly that: stay-at-home orders during the first few months of the pandemic that took its toll on one of Dancehall’s most prolific stars. It “lit a fire” so to speak, and placed the admittedly complacent 36-year-old back in a “money-making mood” with a number of producers (his go-to composer Mark Hize, Jonny Blaze & Stadic, Track Starr, Ricky Blaze, Shab Don, and Zimi Ent among others), as well as writers such as Detroit trio LIONCHLD (Lighter, Nostàlgico).

Judging by Red Reign’s teasers—Can’t Stay Sober, Pay For It feat. Spice, Boom Bang feat. Davido and She Got It feat. Rafa Pabön—the result is a musical kaleidoscope, or, as Konshens puts it, “a multi-genre project that has the stamp and identity of Dancehall & Caribbean culture while not sounding like everything that’s already out.”

The rest it seems, came down to manifestation: by the time he was back in beast mode, Ineffable Records, a label which, like Konshens, “strives to disrupt the music industry status quo”, approached him with a partnership deal. “Dem very professional. We work well together,” he told DancehallMag in an interview.  “Dem present a nice likkle arrangement and we just work wid it.”

When asked whether he’d surpassed his earliest dreams of stardom, Konshens replied like a trooper. “I never used to dream of stardom, so mi definitely surpass it. I can’t say this is something I aspired to be or had a long-term dream. I guess it’s the natural drive weh mi have. I like to be successful in anything weh me do, so anytime mi reach a level, mi try go to di next level,” he said.

On our Zoom call, the Sky Dweller deejay’s background is a large Jamaican flag, and the dose of patriotism couldn’t be more precise—Konshens has carved his own lane in the industry by traveling Dancehall’s broad horizons. The rhyme slinger is set to be the nation’s next crossover triumph thanks to his unfailingly authentic flow. In our interview below, Konshens speaks on his elevated status, his expectations for Red Reign, and ranks a few of his collaborators.

You’ve said Red Reign means getting back to “the hungry, aggressive Konshens” of 2011/12. Does this renewed hunger signal a new era for you or just a natural evolution from the last 10+ years?

It definitely wasn’t a natural evolution (laughs). If anything, I was getting complacent, that was what was happening naturally. The pandemic definitely lit a fire on the creative process.

You’ve also said that you wrote and recorded nearly one hundred songs in nine months. How has your creativity overall been affected by this period?

It was just crazy production and that was like therapy for me cause I felt like I was going crazy.

Your sound became more diverse over the years — Afrobeats (Boom Bang – Davido), Reggaeton (Mover – Demarco), even Lo-fi (Wide Angle – Felly). Are you still discovering new sides of yourself? Will we see a Konshens produced track anytime soon?

I’ve produced a couple tracks still but I’m just working at finding more sides of myself and exploring more sounds.

What’s the biggest difference between Garfield Spence and Konshens, and what’s the biggest similarity?

There’s no real difference you know and that’s kind of dangerous (laughs). The biggest similarity is that both personalities are introverts.

You’ve done everything from soca to lovers rock and hardcore dancehall. Do you have a comfort zone or preference though?

The thing is, I approach music as a fan. I’m a fan of all of dem genre you list out. I don’t have a preference and I’m not just doing it because it hot or convenient. I’m genuinely a fan so it comes through in the music.

For some people you’re not only an artist, but also a style icon. Even the album title, Red Reign, is based on one of your fashion moves. Did you ever feel pressured in that regard?

No, cause at the end of the day it’s just me doing wah me waan do. (laughs).

You’ve had two unique opportunities to represent dancehall and brand Jamaica this year; your Audiomack appearance, a coveted virtual solo gig, and on the Verzuz stage with generations of dancehall greatness. What did each of these distinct opportunities mean to you?

Any opportunity, big or small to represent brand Jamaica is a big deal for me, I’ve been blessed with these opportunities. Maybe it’s because I got my start in music in Japan. To see thousands of people singing your song and they don’t know English, that let me know how big brand Jamaica is and I never forget it. Any opportunity to represent that (points to Jamaican flag) is an honor. I have a huge amount of respect for Sean Paul and that’s the path that I wanna take, just that I want to have a more hands on approach to the music.

When did it hit you that you were one of the go-to dancehall artists for international collabs, essentially sealing your status as a hitmaker?

It was around 5 years ago with a track called Policeman with Eva Simmons. Then I started hearing what A&R’s were saying about me in meetings. If dem cyaan get Sean Paul, you know who dem ah call! (laughs)

There’s a number of features on Red Reign and collaborations have become an area you’re known for and thrive in. How do your features usually come together? Do you orchestrate them or is the process more organic?

Some are organic, others you have a song and you’ll have someone in mind. All my collabs over the last few years, they reached out to me.

You’ve worked with so many people over the years that it’s impossible to delve into the details of each. We’re gonna play a word association game. Tell me one word that comes to mind about working with each of these artists:

Doja Cat
Smooth 

Nipsey Hussle
Inspirational

Nailah Blackman
Fun

J Capri
Fun

Tarrus Riley
Schooled

If you could choose someone to cover one of your songs, who would it be?

Romain Virgo – To Her With Love (They Say).

What’s the ultimate goal for Red Reign? What do you want people to walk away with?

I want people to love it, fullstop. Mi nah try block it or plant no seed and seh “Oh, I hope it comes off this way”. I just waan you find some songs on it weh you relate to and hope you follow the story. There’s a story in there but if yuh nuh follow it, mi nah go vex. Mi jus waan you love the music and enjoy it.

Stream Red Reign on Spotify below.