Neilium wants to bring ‘The Vybz’

Despite 2022's headlines being perpetually dominated by trap-dancehall and 'choppa' music, there are a few newcomers, like Neilium, who want to switch up the vibe.

He spent the entire year invested in recording, but only releasing a handful of singles, including Pretty Girl Like She, in collaboration with Unknown Di Boss, and The Vybz, which he believes are "game-changing" productions.

"I have been doing music for a long time, but if I continue to do the right thing in pursuit of my passion. There is nothing that will stop me from making it and changing the narrative," Neilium told THE STAR.

Gone are the days of the light-hearted covers he started doing almost 10 years ago, posting them on social media platforms. After all the positive feedback from persons urging him to start recording music of his own, he finally decided to make his debut in 2015. Since then, he has been fully invested in his music career, and for some time has been named as one of the artistes on the Real Friends Records' roster.

Neilium said, "I've been fortunate to have Real Friends invest in my career. It's been great thus far, but I can't lie and say it was easy. The career has its challenges. I have experienced fight (adversity) in terms of producers and selectors not being supportive, or really working hard to not give me a chance."

That experience was the motivation behind his single titled Can't Stop Me, which was recorded two years ago but officially released this year. He said that with advice received from one of dancehall's seasoned acts, he will continue to focus on producing positive music.

"I was told to 'Remain on the right path, don't change, be yourself in this music.' Those were the words of KipRich and I clutch on to it. Basically, when I am at the top, people will want to reach out to me, and, hopefully, that would only be a life lesson for them to learn how to treat people and surpass negativity, which can only help each of us to rise," he said.

Neilium's personal style is to exercise singing vocal range, freestyle rap, and deejay over rhythms. His latest release, The Vybz, is steadily gaining traction in the streets and is one of several tracks being prepared for an EP, which he will put out in the December party season.

"The first time I heard the song, I thought the rhythm was groovy and of a party-type of song. It's what dancehall's landscape is missing, that is positivity. Not lyrically, but concept-wise. There are too many gun tunes and not enough that make people want to party, and not enough praising our women. It's mostly trap-style, too. We need some authentic dancehall and that which fuses other genres but doesn't take away from its uniqueness. Again, just positive vibes...I want to bring that vibes," Neilium said.