Tatik gets emotional on RIP track

Dancehall singjay Tatik has poured his heart out in his latest single, Return If Possible, which pays homage to the dearly departed.

The artiste, who placed fourth in the 2017 staging of talent competition Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, said that while he has not experienced any personal loss, he can empathise with the persons who are in mourning.

Tatik, whose given name is Kevin Daley, said although he hasn't experienced this situation directly, he has seen others in pain as a result of the loss of a loved one. He said the recent fatal stabbing of a student at his alma mater, Kingston Technical High School (KT), brought the issue closer to home.

"People can relate to this song, without a doubt, because it's based on real-life events and real emotions. Even the recent stabbing at KT is a good example of what people go through emotionally when someone is dying right in front of them and they feel so helpless," Tatik said.

The artiste, who strives to deliver deeply emotional songs, said that given the nature of his music, it was inevitable that an RIP-type track would be added to his growing catalogue.

"I sing a lot of pain songs, so an RIP song was inevitable, but I wanted mine to be more than the regular gone-too-soon kind of song. I voiced the song as if I'm experiencing the death of someone in that moment, so it comes out as a real crying-out kind of song. There is real passion in what people experience in that moment, so I have to give their pain real justice," Tatik shared.