‘Island girl’ Khole Baldeo seeking int’l stardom

Khole Baldeo could be on the verge of becoming an international star as her debut single, Island Girl, has been gaining traction across the globe.

The song, described as a fusion of traditional Jamaican dancehall sounds and pop commercial melodies, tells the story of two people who want each other, but neither is willing to make the first move. Since its release last November, Island Girl has planted the seeds that have begun to bear the fruits of encouragement for the Grenadian songstress.

"The single has been getting so much love. I love that part of the process, because I am always proud of what I put out," she said. "The support at home in Grenada has been huge. It is being played on stations regionally, in Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua, as well as in the UK and the US. It is nice to see the German market is really loving it. Grenada is waiting for a star to emerge and I'm here for it!"

And she might be on to something. In an age where traditional boundaries are constantly being breached and ideas are merging, she doesn't believe her creativity should be defined by any single genre.

"I definitely see myself being eclectic with my genre choices as I continue to discover myself as an artiste, while always staying true to my Caribbean roots," she said. "Currently, I'm producing 'island pop' music and I'm focused on putting out timeless music. Creatively, I plan to move forward with the knowledge of my culture in my heart, which will always be a part of me." Khole Baldeo said that she was heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall music while growing up.

"I was first exposed to dancehall around the same time I started listening to reggae, in my early teens hanging with the older kids, when I started sneaking out to parties," she said, naming songs like These Streets by Tanya Stephens, Sycamore Tree by then-named Lady Saw. "It (exposure to dancehall) was impactful in finding my sound, flow and rhythm just being around the vibes. Other genres of music have been impactful as well, but the way dancehall made me feel was a new confidence, from connecting to the riddims and feeling myself, to the lyrics that introduced a new way of expression for me." Other musical genres that influence her include gospel, country, jazz, rock and hip-hop.