Today we’d like to introduce you to Hakeem Walters.
Hakeem, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At a young age growing up in Jamaica, I thought I had a nice voice. The school I was attending at the time was Bridgeport Prep. The music teacher was having tryouts for the school choir so I thought this was my chance to see if my voice was really good. The song was Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley and apparently, I did such a good job he wanted me to sing lead, but I never got the chance to sing lead. On the day of the event, when it was time for me to go on stage I suddenly had the urge for a drink. On my way back, I heard the choir singing without me.
Ever since then, I went on dreaming of the day I would get another chance to grace the stage. Life has pulled me in many directions. I migrated from Jamaica at the age of nine and moved to Florida. With the move, I left music behind due to culture shock some may say. Here I was meeting Spanish, Haitian and American people for the first time. I fell in love with rap music later on and Lil Wayne was my idol. Nevertheless, I knew I was no rapper so music production was far fetched.
It wasn’t until the age of 15 when my parents decided it was best for me to finish school in Jamaica. My mother sent me to a Seventh-day Adventist school (Willowdene Group of Schools) and beleive you me even the kids in kindergarten could harmonize. I had no choice but to pick up a few tricks. I met my music teacher Mr. Campbell to whom I owe most if not all my gratitude. He instilled a certain musical discipline in me. I was doubtful at times but he believed in me and pushed me to be better. When I left high school, it was as a musician.
While attending high school, I met my great friend Richard Nattoo through visual arts. There was a program that was kept every Saturday at the national gallery and thats how we became friends. While on the topic of visual arts, we came to the realization that we both did music. He is the one who told me about fl studio. He also was apart of a label (LabWorx Records) that needed a singer, so I became apart of the label and that gave me my love for music production.
Many years have passed and I spent every day sharpening my skills. I moved back to Florida at the age of 19. Since then. I have been trying to acquire my own studio which I now have and been working on my sound ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Within my adolescence, it’s been hard keeping the lights on and chasing my dream. I don’t come from a wealthy background so no one is funding me but me. This is a challenge most artist face. Music is expensive, you pay not only with money but also with your time and I have always worked more than one jobs so a lot of sleepless nights.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I would like to think of my self as a soft rock fused with dancehall. I pull inspiration from Sade, Phil Collins all the way to Bob Marley and Vybz Kartel. My aesthetic finds a balance within all these artists and I naturally create a fusion. I am proud that my music reflects me 100 percent with no apology and what makes me different. Everybody is different. I am not one to try and copy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kheemo_sts/
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