J’Calm … cool and collected

With the kaleidoscopic, confident energy of a dancehall artiste and the sensibilities of a global pop artiste, J’Calm is definitely a high beam hybrid illuminating the musical byways. In 2023, the Clarendon-born rising star became a viral sensation when the breakout single, Tempted, earned a spot on Barack Obama’s summer playlist. The chatter surrounding the teenager’s name did not end there as music critics began comparing J’Calm’s demeanour and talent to that of R&B superstar Chris Brown, who is rumoured to have an interest in working with him.

According to J’Calm’s father Lloyd Anderson, who also takes on the role of the recording artiste’s manager, “it’s more than rumours circulating”.

“There’s a lot in the making and we’ve started communicating with someone on Chris Brown’s team and we’re optimistic if a collaboration is to happen, it will,” he said. Anderson also dropped the names of iconic acts like Erykah Badu, Jason Derulo, Teddy Riley and Nigerian-African actor and singer Rotimi.

Choosing to forgo the conventional path of signing with a major international record label as they began to show interest, J’Calm has already defied the norm, with his determination to make a name for himself.

“It had a lot to do with us wanting to use a particular strategy in marketing J’Calm. At first he was doing strictly dancehall without the vulgarity and I recognised Jay was holding back the singing vocals. Though people doubted his capabilities, it was not surprising for me because his mom sings (so) I advised him not to hold back. From then on, it has been amazing, and even he was surprised by his voice. Jay’s incredibly talented; him bad pon di lyrics,” remarked Anderson.

Cool country boy

Born Jovane Nathaniel Gayle, the singer-songwriter from Chapleton, embraced the serenity of his surroundings. The moniker J’Calm encapsulates this essence perfectly. Reflecting on his upbringing, he expressed, “I’m very much a country boy – loving lots of breeze, quiet scenery, enjoying food, going to the river, just relaxing and cooling out, that’s my vibe.”

J’Calm’s journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. As a child, he struggled with severe asthma and underwent surgeries that could have jeopardised his singing capabilities. However, he trained his voice and mastered breathing techniques to overcome these obstacles. He also honed his dancing skills, which he said have further improved his breathing. Despite early scepticism from persons who were concerned about his health and envisioned a more traditional career path for him, J’Calm knew music was his true calling and along with his father, he established Rosegold Records.

“It was challenging at first but here I am. Your current experience is just a dot in the grand scheme of your future. There are so many opportunities out there; stay focused and disciplined,” J’Calm advised those with dreams of achieving greatness. Demonstrating those same traits, J’Calm has, since the beginning of the year, released several chart-topping tracks including Role Play, which made it into the top 10 on the iTunes Reggae Chart, Easy, and W.Y.N.

He also joined the juggling on Brimstone Riddim, a Dutty Rock Production with Sweet Love, another track positioned to capture global attention as it shows more of J’Calm’s vocal range and songwriting capabilities. “People may ask what someone my age knows about love, but it’s a matter of observation. I chose that route because love, or emotions are relatable and there are different types of love and love experiences,” J’Calm explained. Meanwhile, the music video for Call My Name from his début album, Niché, is receiving overwhelming approval from fans.

Having recently shared the stage with Grammy Award-winning recording artiste, Sean Paul, during a performance at Charly Black’s birthday bash — an experience he described as, “an amazing honour” — J’Calm is gearing up for similar opportunities. On June 1, the local fashion industry will get to see the dynamic talent perform on Saint International’s Avant Garde Designer of the Year Competition and Fashion Face of the Caribbean finals at the AC Hotel.

This is just the beginning of the recording artiste’s journey. With support from veteran producers like Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, Ainsley ‘NotNice’ Morris, and Tony Kelly and a rapidly growing fanbase, his future looks promising. “I just celebrated my 19th birthday, on May 4, and I’m just excited about what’s to come five, 10 years down the line. There’s potential for a tour in Canada later this year and I’m ready to take on the world,” he shared.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com