As the extended deadline of Wednesday, April 10, 2024, approaches for the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, Slashe, the 2023 winner, encourages both aspiring and established artistes to seize the opportunity to advance their careers.
Born Donald Anderson, Slashe has embarked on an intriguing journey in the entertainment industry. Initially known for his impactful career as the comedian Iceman, he later adopted the name Slashe to pursue his passion for music. While he has been making strides in the music industry, he credits winning the competition with launching his career. His song "Best in the World" emerged as the winner in the 2023 Jamaica Festival Song Competition.
"Before the competition, I was putting in the work, spending time in the studio, and producing good quality music. The songs received airplay both locally and internationally, but they weren't getting the level of publicity needed to truly make my mark in the industry or to generate the revenue I wanted. When I won the competition, I not only received a generous cash prize but also gained increased promotional opportunities across various media platforms. I started waking up earlier for interviews and participating in promotional events.”
He lauds the competition as “essentially a machinery of promotions, where you have the chance to perform at shows, some of which offer monetary rewards while others provide promotional exposure.” He says the added promotion has helped to establish his brand and he has subsequently gained recognition both locally and among the diaspora.
For those hesitant to enter, Slashe offers words of encouragement: 'Sometimes you just have to go for it. Give it time and continue to put in genuine, authentic work. I can almost guarantee that you'll see results, whether in the short or long term.'
He also emphasizes to interested entrants that the song must embody patriotism and reflect Jamaican culture. Sharing his own approach, he explains, 'For me, I focused on the freedom fighters and liberators. I avoided typical topics like ackee and saltfish, opting for more creative ways to showcase Jamaican culture. The key is to be as original as possible.'
With a small window of opportunity remaining for the 2024 competition, he urges artists not to miss out on their chance to shine.
Echoing Slashe's sentiments, Sacaj, the 2022 competition winner and the fifth woman to win the Competition, emphasizes the rewards of entering the competition, including significant media coverage and financial gains. She offers reassurance to those considering last-minute entries, sharing her own experience of submitting winning entry on the cut-off date.
“I found out about the competition about two days before the closing date. In the short timeframe, I wrote the song, got the beat composed, got the song mixed and edited and submitted it online before midnight…I would encourage everyone with a love for music to just go for it. Enter your song in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition. You have nothing to lose. The JCDC provides abundant resources to assist with promotion and video production, providing excellent exposure and the chance to win a handsome sum of money."
Entries for the 2024 Jamaica Festival Song Competition close on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at midnight. Interested individuals can submit their audio entry at http://jcdc.gov.jm/online-forms and pay an entry fee of one thousand dollars ($1000.00). Contact the nearest JCDC parish office for additional information.
