ZiZi gets serious about music

Ever since he can remember, the aspiring artiste Hosiah 'ZiZi' Sterling has been drawn to music.

His earliest set of songs were built from rhythms created from beating his desk at school. His classmates were his first audience, and gimmicks were his initial selling points. While at St Ann's Bay High School, the artiste gained tremendous popularity among his peers, so much so that he began seeing music as a career option. The 25-year old says his style has matured since his high school days, and he is now ready to take on the industry.

"A from me a likkle yute me know me have da music talent yah. Me used to do some likkle gimmick thing as a schooler - beat di school desk and pan and dem thing deh, and hold a vibes. Me fren dem used to tell me say me have it and me can make it. So when me reach around 16 me start take di thing serious and start follow up the studio. Me start pree music professionally, and since then, me focus change," he said.

"Me style more mature now. Mi develop lyrically, and me think me ready now fi take on this business. I know I have the talent. Me already a make some links, and with the right exposure, me know ZiZi thing can make it worldwide."

Speaking of links, ZiZi has been working with members of the '6ix'. The group, which hails from Montego Bay, has some of the hottest entertainers on the dancehall circuit, including Squash, Jahvillani and Chronic Law.

ZiZi said that since making the connection with the group, he has seen his popularity grow.

"I always had a little fan base because I've been doing my thing, but since me link wid Flydie Wise, Chronic Law and dem man deh, is like the thing take on a new life. Right now, me a get crazy love in the street. More people a gravitate to me," he said.

A BIG THING

"Dem see me and see me talent and decide say dem a go take me up inna hand. Right now, a di 6ixes a go close Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night, and me a go deh deh backstage. Me might nuh ready yet fi get da main stage run deh, but just to be there and watch dem work will be a big thing for me. I will get to learn some things, and maybe one day in the future, me can work di Sumfest stage fi myself."

In addition to his Reggae Sumfest aspirations, ZiZi also has dreams of making it to the Grammys.

"I want my music to stand out because that's how far me see myself going in this industry," he said. "I am dancehall. The 6ix is dancehall, and we can get there."

ZiZi believes dancehall artistes have the potential to make it to that stage in their raw, unadulterated format.

"Dancehall artiste can go as far as dem want wid di music. Everybody love dancehall music, all the international artiste dem a pree dancehall, so me know we have it can go international."

Songs: Spanglaz Six, My Apology and Red Light.

Inspirations: Bob Marley and Chronic Law

Interesting fact: Hails from 4 West Street, also known as Spanglaz