Grammy-nominated producer Seanizzle said he’s feeling “tremendous” about his upcoming red-carpet styled 20th musical anniversary, set for the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew.
While expressing deep gratitude to the Almighty and his strong support system that kept him afloat, he reflected on a time when he hit rock bottom and thought about throwing in the towel.
“In 2009, I remember I came out with a project, and it got no love – reaching out to the artistes to record was a challenge. It was at a time when I thought I was making strides now in life and fell right back to square one. Oh God man, it was a heart-aching feeling and mek mi wonda, ‘What am I doing? Dis mek fi me?’,” said Seanizzle.
The very next year, he found his iconic ‘One Day’ rhythm,’ which featured massive hits such as ‘Drinking Rum and Redbull’ and ‘Nah Sell Out’.
“Everything just changed from there. And if I had succumbed to that feeling at the time, I wouldn’t have made it to the next year to find a hit that resonate wid people up to dis day,” he said, underscoring that the experience taught him to be persistent, to “focus and never give up, but most importantly, to trust God”.
He noted that the musical juggling for his One Day production, which was all recorded in one day, stood as one of his most unforgettable studio sessions.
“While making that riddim, I found myself started singing my song ‘One Day’ on the beat. But I didn’t write that song for myself. I said I was gonna demo it and give it to an artiste. However, Mr G came to the studio and he heard it and seh ‘Yow, dis bad’ and mi a seh ‘Yea but mi feel like mi ago give it to waah artiste’ and him a seh ‘Yuh mad? A your song dis’. He also liked the riddim and den him voice his song – Swaggarific,” he reflected.
However, the drama had only just begun, as Future Fambo indicated that he was heading overseas and was done with music. “Suh while he’s saying all a dat mi a rebuke him but he went into the voice room and fell asleep. Next thing mi know a Beenie Man a knock pon di door, he came in, hear di riddim and it just changed the whole mood – pure excitement yuh nuh; and he voiced his song ‘I’m Ok,’ Seanizzle recalled.
“Shortly after, [Beenie Man] a seh ‘Fambo wah happen to yuh? Yuh need fi find a song’ and Fambo refused. Den Beenie starts rough him up and out of data, came ‘Drinking Rum and Redbull’. After that song was recorded, a whole heap a people start come addi studio because Beenie start call everybody,” Seanizzle laughed.
Later, a “likkle Rasta youth” who was in the corner, asked Seanizzle if he could record as well. Seanizzle initially refused but, after discussions, he learnt that the silent spectator was Khago. He then offered the rhythm to Khago, who declined, but remained at the studio.
“A few hours later, ZJ Liquid came by di studio and Khago a hail him and Liquid seh, ‘Mi naah deal wid yuh man, yuh sell out yuh friend dem, yuh nuh memba weh yaah come from’. Khago said ‘Me? Mi wudda neva sell out mi friends’ and I went outside and mi just see Mr G a run a come and seh ‘Khago have di baddest song – ‘Nah Sell Out,’ Seanizzle reminisced with pride. He said the moment remains a lasting memory for him as everything happened so “naturally”. In an aim to restore this musical comradery, the artiste/producer said his 20th celebration will be more focused on recreating that “musical fellowship and networking”.
“This event is for some young artistes, publicists, producers, journalists to come together and mek some connection and move the needle in the industry one step further. So, it’s all about fellowship, celebrating and just pushing the music,” he said. Seanizzle said he doesn’t want the focus to be on him but to celebrate with the people who have been integral in his career because “I couldn’t have done this on my own”.