Blak T looks to impact lives with his music
Dancehall artiste Blak T, given name Gavin Martin, has high hopes of building a solid career in the music industry. Blak T, who attended the Godfrey Stewart High School in Savannala-Mar, Westmoreland, admitted, however, that while in school, he had a keen interest in business subjects. But music was in his veins, having developed a passion at a young age, and he gained popularity at school because of his talent. The 27-year-old deejay told STAR on the Rise, “I used to enter competitions with other artistes by doing sound clashes.”
The lyrically inclined artiste’s entrance into the music industry was inspired by dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, whose style he used to imitate. “When I was younger I always listened to his songs, I would rewrite and sing them the same way he does,” he said.
Now in the music industry for three years, the resident of Whitehouse, Westmoreland, says he has been receiving positive feedback from his friends and colleagues. With a growing platform, mostly from the support of community members, he has been growing in confidence and making inroads with his songs, which have been having a positive impact on listeners. “Every time I release a song, I have people telling me it is a hit song and it has inspired them,” he shared. R.I.P., his first song to go viral on social media, has opened avenues for his career.
“I got positive feedback all over the world, saying that it has touched many people emotionally. Since I have this impact to touch people I knew music is something I wanted to take seriously,” he said. Describing his sound as inspirational and uplifting, Blak T said fans can expect his singles to be a source of hope in rough times.
“I like to sing about real issues that people can relate to,” he stated. His latest release, Paramour, the first single from his EP titled If yuh Know yuh Know, was released on July 23. It centres on relationship drama, and the typical love story where relationships start well until they experience complications and problems.
Blak T, who has registered with the record label Staple Thugz Muzik, stated, “Everyone who has been in a relationship can relate to at least one of the songs from the EP. It’s about things that I have experienced in past relationships.” The music video for Paramour has been doing reasonably well since its release, with 36,000 views on YouTube; it has also received some airplay.