The newest star in Jamaica’s dancehall galaxy Jahvillani represents the refreshing, red-hot, and youthful smooth sound era of the genre with all its’ diamond dimensions. A true masterful and musical street soldier from Great Pond St. Ann, the twenty-six-year-old with government name Dujon Mario Edwards marches unapologetically to his own captivating lyrical beat, steadily etching a moniker for himself especially from his early hit “Wileside Govament”.
Armed with humility and transparency, he speaks through his musical calling to reflect accurately the real-life facets of Jamaican society. From the hypnotic “Smooth” with Skillibeng which could easily be a triple X rated ode to Shabba Ranks 90’s dancehall hit “Trailer Load A Girls” to the gritty “Gangsta”, Jahvillani’s star has arrived.
Multifaceted as a songwriter and fashion-forward artiste since 2013, one of his early songs “Clarks pon Foot“, found resonance and relevance to young men who share a fierce appreciation for the popular shoe, placing Jahvillani at the apex of the dancehall fashion arena, giving him the props to represent the men well on stage, and in his music videos.
Despite hard-hitting sexually provocative lyrics in his vast song catalogue like “Nuh Reason” and the addictive “Sunday to Sunday” for his female fans, surprisingly he is not one to consider himself a sex symbol.
The VP Records-signed artiste nevertheless relishes his popularity with the ladies, who are drawn like a moth to a flame to his ultra-smooth lyrics and delivery, coupled with his natural magnetism on and off stage.
Always up to the time, he seeks to have his fans entertained and engaged as with his latest pre-summer single “Time Bomb” done with Wasp which is enjoying great popularity right now.
For Caribbean POSH, I recently interviewed Jahvillani to discover what makes him tick, as well as to uncover various aspects of his personality unknown to fans that will activate the appreciation button more for this great artiste as he releases his new album Dirt to Bentley this summer.
CP: What do you believe is the greatest joy on your musical journey right now?
Jahvillani: “My greatest joy is the exposure that comes with the success of my passion. Music is a medium to connect with so many people all over the world. One day you’re just a “likkle yout”, and another day you’re a star.”
CP:. How young were you when you first envisioned your life as an artiste?
Jahvillani: “15 years old.”
CP: What do you think your fans love most about your music?
Jahvillani: “I think they love how real my music is, and the unique sound or what some people would refer to as the country accent.”
CP: What do you appreciate about your music?
Jahvillani: “I appreciate most that I am my own voice, that my music is simply who I am personified.”
CP: How would you describe your personality in five words?”
Jahvillani: “Reserved, hardworking, passionate, caring, creative.”
CP: Pre-Covid 19 pandemic, what did you enjoy most about performing on stage?
Jahvillani: “To be able to interact with fans, and the vibes of just being outside.”
CP: What are some strategies during the pandemic that your music management team have been implementing so that your music is still being enjoyed by fans worldwide?
Jahvillani: “We aim to stay current, remain relevant and release quality music. The pandemic has shown us more than ever, that music can be enjoyed even through a virtual world, and as such, we also have ramped up the marketing by penetrating the Spotify market, and by forming more relations with the corporate world. “
CP: Where is your favourite place to perform and why?
Jahvillani: “I don’t have a favorite place per se, but I did enjoy performing at Ghetto Splash and Chug It.”
CP: What motivates your music?
Jahvillani: “My life’s journey is my biggest motivation. My music tells a story about my life and life as we know it in Jamaica.”
CP: How would you describe your music?
Jahvillani: “As I would’ve said earlier, my music is simply a story of life. Sometimes that story is an upbeat vibe for my female fans, and other times it’s about the hardships of life, the good and the bad and the success of it all. “
CP: Which artistes have been your main influences and why?
Jahvillani: “My main influences would be Buju Banton and Vybz Kartel because while they would have served two different eras of dancehall and they remained relevant and maintained their image as two dancehall legends. “
CP: Which artistes have been your favourite to collaborate with on so far and who do you wish to collaborate with next?
Jahvillani: “ I don’t have a favorite to be honest, but what I will say is that any and every artiste I have collaborated with was always a good vybe working together and doing what we love. “
CP: When was the first time you heard your music, and how did you feel?
Jahvillani: “I was about 20. I felt accomplished like I have made something that I can be proud of, and I knew this was only the start of something great. “
CP: Reminiscing, what are thoughts about your first single “Hold a Vibez” as well as “Wile and Done” and how they made a critical impact on the direction of your musical career?
Jahvillani: “They were fairly good at the time being completely new to the world of music, but I can definitely say I have matured a lot. I have come a long way and those singles I believe helped me to grow to become the artist I am today. Only up from here. “
CP: Which single is the favourite of most of your fans to date?
Jahvillani: “I think Wileside Govament is their favourite. It definitely has and is continuing to expose me and my music to all over the world. “
CP: What do you love most about your single “Clarks pon Foot” and what inspired the song?
Jahvillani: “I loved that it gave hustlers the opportunity to make even more money. I love wearing Clarks from a long time so I was inspired just by my love for the shoes. “
CP: What do you love most about fashion and utilising it in your music videos as well as on stage?
Jahvillani: “Fashion is a statement. Your choice in fashion is to help convey whatever image and style that fits your brand. Personally, I like to keep it simple, especially when performing, however for music videos, I do sometimes have to switch it up, if the song requires that. “
CP: Do you write your own lyrics?
Jahvillani: “Yes, all the time.”
CP: Fans are enjoying your latest single “Time Bomb” what did you enjoy most about creating the music video, and what do fans love most about the single?
Jahvillani: “I was featured on Time Bomb with Wasp. It was truly Wasp’s creativity, but I definitely enjoyed acting the role given to me, and I think the fans simply love the creativity of it all.”
CP: Do you have an active role in the creation of your music video concepts?
Jahvillani: “It is usually a team effort, to ensure that the video is creatively bringing across the message of my songs.”
CP: Would you consider yourself a young sex symbol through your music?
Jahvillani: “I make song for the girls and the girls love me so…..”
CP: What do female fans love about your music and lyrics, and which singles are their favourite?
Jahvillani: “From the get go, the girls love because mi a bad man lol. The truth is women love confidence and I feel my music and my lyrics embody confidence and suave so the girls can’t help but to love me. I definitely think ‘Nuh Reason’ is still a favourite for girls and also “Sunday to Sunday”.
CP: How do you feel about being among the newest generation of dancehall artistes who are representing dancehall well?
Jahvillani: “I feel honoured. The youths are the future, and I am glad to be a part of this movement and it is my hope to help break ground for more young artistes.”
CP: What have you taken from the older generation of dancehall artistes to add to your style, and lyrical delivery?
Jahvillani: “The older generation is the foundation so we have to adapt their basic style of delivery, the hard-core feel and vibe that they brought to dancehall and their stage craft. With that foundation mixed with our new melody and creativity, we carry on the legacy of dancehall.”
Photographer: Wade Rhoden /Creative Director + Editing: Stephanie Chin/ Design: Rebecca Lovinsquy/ Stylist: Tamo Ennis
CP: How does your music effectively represent issues in the society?
Jahvillani: “Just like my name ‘Jahvillani’ is a fusion of Jah which is good and villani, a twist on villain- the bad, similarly, my music represents the good and bad of society. From stories of success to stories of hardship and violence, I try to touch on everything that I see around me while providing people with an outlet to de-stress and to simply enjoy life while we can.
CP: What do you like to do to relax?
Jahvillani: “Smoke weed.”
CP: What are some of your favourite foods?
Jahvillani: “Fried green plantain and curry conch.”
CP: What do you love most about growing up in the garden parish?
Jahvillani: “Country life ah the best life. From the beaches and the rivers just being a stone throw away to the camaraderie of your fellow brothers, I don’t feel like I would have developed that level of togetherness and shared experiences anywhere else. “
CP: How do you feel about hailing from St. Ann the birthplace of greats like Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey?
Jahvillani: “I feel like another great one, like a legacy has been bestowed upon me and it is just for me to fulfil my destiny.”
CP:. What would you like your legacy to be?
Jahvillani: “I would like to leave an impact, to be a symbol of success to the youths and for them to always know that you can achieve success by following your passion. “
CP: What’s next for Jahvillani?
Jahvillani: “More music, more money, more life my Album “Dirt to Bentley” Out July 9th on VP Records.”