5 Questions With D’Yani

Recording artiste and songwriter D’Yani has grown significantly since he first emerged on the Jamaican music scene a few years ago. The artiste, who is known to have ladies in their ‘feelings ’ and encourages his fans to ‘live a little’, has been building momentum with singles such as Señorita, Goddess, Birthday, Lock and Key and Ride It.

His career gained an international boost with Live A Little, the breakout record he created with Kareem ‘Remus’ Burrell of Xterminator Sound.

That evolution has now culminated in D’Yani’s debut album, L.L.A.P. (Live Life and Prosper), which dropped today and reflects both his personal and artistic growth.

“I think you can hear the growth, but I think it’s more so because I’ve grown as a person,” he told The Gleaner.

D’Yani explained that, when he started making music, he was still figuring out his sound, his writing and the things he wanted to talk about. The album itself has also been a long journey, with some of the songs written years ago, allowing him to hear “different versions” of himself when he listens to the completed project.

These days, he is more comfortable with who he is and less concerned with proving himself: “I know the type of music I want to make, I know the things I want to talk about and I’m more willing to be vulnerable with people.”

For him, that willingness to be vulnerable is one of the clearest signs of his evolution. “So I think that’s probably the biggest difference — you’re hearing more of me.”

While flying back home ahead of the official launch of the 11-track album, 5 Questions With... caught up with D’Yani to hear more about L.L.A.P., what he has been enjoying these days, and what’s next on the horizon for him this year.

1. You’ve been taking your ‘L.L.A.P.’ album campaign to international cities. What has that experience been like, connecting with fans outside of Jamaica?

It’s been a really good experience. I think one of the things I appreciate most is seeing how far the music can actually reach. You go to a different country, and people know the songs and the words, and you’re like, ‘Wow, okay, this really travelled’. And I think that’s one of the beautiful things about music. You don’t necessarily have to speak the same language or come from the same place to connect with something. The message can still reach you. For me, being Jamaican and being able to take that music to different places is something I don’t take for granted. I’m just grateful for the people who have been showing love and for the opportunity to keep bringing the music to new places.

2. What does the album title ‘Live Life and Prosper’ mean to you, and what inspired the name of the project?

Live Life and Prosper has really been a part of me for a long time. It’s more than just an album title for me. It’s kind of a way of looking at life. Life is going to happen. You’re going to have good days, bad days; you’re going to lose people, you’re going to gain people, you’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to learn. But, at the end of the day, you still have to live. So, for me, it’s just about living life fully, learning from experiences, and trying to prosper through all of it. And I wanted the album to carry that same energy because it really represents where I am in my life right now.

3. How would you describe the overall makeup of the album, and what vibes or feelings do you hope fans connect with?

I would say it’s reggae, definitely. But there are different sides to it. You have one-drop, you have some ska influence, you have dub elements, and then you have some of the things people would normally expect from me. I didn’t really want to make the album and say, ‘Okay, every song has to sound like this’. I just wanted to make good music and let the songs be what they are. There are songs that are more reflective, there are love songs, there are songs that are just good vibes. I think everybody can find something on there that speaks to them.

4. What’s your favourite song on the album, and why?

That one is hard, because every song has a different meaning to me. I wouldn’t really want to say one is my favourite, because they all represent different moments. But Journey is definitely one that is very close to me. It’s really just me reflecting on the journey — the good, the bad, the things you go through, the things you learn. I think, as you get older, you start looking at life differently. You realise that everything that happened to you, even the things you didn’t understand at the time, played a part in getting you to where you are. So Journey is one of those songs where I feel like I’m just talking. There’s no pretending. It’s just me.

5. Outside of L.L.A.P., what else is on the horizon for you for the rest of the year?

There’s definitely more coming. Right now, I’m really focused on giving the album its moment and taking it to as many people as possible. There’s more travelling, more shows, more music — and just continuing to build. I don’t really like to say too much before things are ready, because sometimes you talk about something and then life changes (laughs). But, definitely, a lot is happening behind the scenes.

BRAWTA:

What’s something D’Yani has been enjoying these days, outside of music?

(Laughs) Just living, man. I think, sometimes when you’re doing music, everything becomes music. You wake up, you’re thinking about a song, you’re thinking about a show, you’re thinking about the next thing. So I’ve been trying to enjoy the other parts of life too. Spending time with people close to me, travelling, experiencing different things, just being present. And, honestly, those things help the music too. You need to live life to have something to write about. So I’m just enjoying the journey and taking things as they come.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com