Keneil Delisser is not any stranger to placing on a present. With drumsticks in hand and his foot firmly planted on the bass drum’s pedal, the drummer and producer who has been on 4 Grammy-nominated works mentioned that his hope is to at some point go away a legacy within the music trade right here at dwelling and overseas.
Previous to utilizing his presents as a musician to journey the world and work with a few of Jamaica’s largest names in leisure, 25-year-old Delisser, who’s initially from Runaway Bay, St Ann, was identical to many different drummers who picked up an affinity for the instrument in church.
“You already know when you find yourself youthful you do the whole lot for the church, so it began from there for me. I believe I preferred music from I used to be like actually, actually younger however as you grow old you begin to actually pay extra consideration to it. However by highschool I used to be very invested into the drums. Again then I used to be self-taught earlier than going to Edna and I’ve a variety of elders who helped me alongside the best way. To be trustworthy, I owe all of my drumming life to a brethren referred to as Kirkland Tulloch. He’s an expensive buddy of mine and he was the one who actually pushed me to take the music significantly,” he shared.
A previous pupil of the Ferncourt Excessive Faculty, Delisser was eager on furthering his data of the instrument and cashing in on his pure talent. He enrolled within the Edna Manley School of the Visible and Performing Arts in 2013 and says fortunately his dad and mom had his again on this resolution the place most would need their youngsters to tackle extra conventional research.
“I suppose I’m the fortunate one. My dad and mom had been very supportive 100 per cent of the best way. Something that I wanted or needed pertaining to the drumming, they had been there behind me for the entire journey and now it’s paying off and I’m pleased for all their assist in my profession,” he shared.
It appears luck would by no means go away his aspect since that second as previous to leaving school, he started touring with a number of trade names.
MAKING WAVES
“My Edna Manley journey was completely different, however type of much like most individuals from the college. I started touring from I used to be in school. My first main artiste that I began working with was Agent Sasco. I used to be doing freelance work for him at the moment after which after that, I went on tour with Vegas and Beenie Man. I did exhibits with Marcia Griffiths, Tony Insurgent and Queen Ifrica abroad and a variety of different individuals. I did all of that earlier than I graduated,” he shared of how he started to essentially unfold his wings in leisure.
Quickly after, he would have labored along with his idol, Buju Banton, on his Lengthy Stroll to Freedom Live performance in 2019 when the artiste returned dwelling after his incarceration abroad. He would then obtain his first acknowledgement for his contribution to a Grammy-nominated album, from Banton’s Upside Down 2020.
“I don’t know if it was God who labored it out however by time I used to be leaving, again in 2018, which was my last 12 months in school, I acquired the decision early up within the 12 months to work with Buju Banton. So when faculty completed now like I went straight into rehearsals for the present [at] the Nationwide Stadium,” he mentioned
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. I acquired to fulfill him and as a child, I might inform the musicians that I speak to that at some point I wish to do a one tune with Buju Banton so it was nearly like a dream come true to see that as a youth you consider doing one thing and it really works out. It was a monumental second for Jamaica and I used to be a part of it, so I’m grateful. The whole lot remains to be paying off,” Delisser continued.
He would then later proceed his streak of labor on Grammy-nominations tasks for Jesse Royal in 2021 on the album Royal after which this 12 months with Shaggy’s Frank Sinatra venture, Come Fly Wid Mi, produced by Sting in addition to Koffee’s album, Gifted. He shared with The Sunday Gleaner that he takes nice delight is having achieved all of this.
“At first, I used to be simply pleased [they were nominated] however after I used to be taking a look at it, I used to be like quite a bit individuals do music and by no means see something like this earlier than so it’s one thing to essentially be thankful for. It has crammed me with gratitude and inspired me to simply carry on working,” he mentioned.
Delisser can be a producer below the label Koastal Kings working with artistes similar to Imeru Tafari and Blvck H3ro. As he continues to make a reputation for himself within the music enterprise, the teen says it will not be sufficient for him to simply do music and be forgotten.
“You already know, you get your time and your time will cross, what I actually need is to not simply be right here doing it. After I go away, I need it to be that ultimately I’ve impacted music or made a priceless contribution in music. I actually need to go away a legacy.”
aaliyah.cunningham@gleanerjm.com
