Isolate readies for the dancehall scene

With its main act on the road, EastSyde Records has been putting its confidence in another promising young act, Isolate.

According to principals Tajay 'Dippa East' Edwards and Romaine McFarlane, there is a continuous need for the introduction of new talent into the dancehall space, because there is a high turnover of music.

EastSyde Records, dubbed the home of Skillibeng, is investing time and money into Isolate, with hopes that he will be another game-changer.

Speaking to THE STAR, Isolate said that there is "zero pressure" to meet any standards that have been set by his predecessors.

"Instead, I feel inspired by the accomplishments. I'm yet to meet Skillibeng face-to-face but I do know what standards of music he has given to the record label and, by way of this, to the dancehall," he said. "I appreciate 'Skilli' music to be different. And I'm bringing my own difference to the dancehall sound."

Over the past five months, Isolate has released several tracks, including Winning, State of Panic, Pray and Cougar, as a means to flood the airwaves. His single Toxic has been garnering major support, with more than one million views on YouTube.

"It's getting a lot of feedback because a something everybody a feel ... that toxicity ... it real. Basically, (it is) speaking about the typical relationship experience with someone and it easy to relate to," Isolate said.

A past student of the Mona High School, Isolate, whose given name is Dejour Small, said that his upbringing, which exposed him to the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, influences much of his writing. He said that while there was limited participation in extra-curricular activities in school, he was an active supporter and eventually found himself interested in music.

His first visit to a recording studio was at the age of 17. Now, at 26, Isolate is on the verge of creating a movement dubbed the Defyant Nation.

"There's so many things to speak about, and dancehall has been that platform and avenue for me to dissect everything. Being the music that I gravitated to, naturally, that is what I record. But I'm looking to cross over and collaborate with others," Isolate said.

"I'm just readying myself for more great things in the future, as the future of the dancehall genre," he continued.