Chat and Laugh’s DJ Lava to return after years away

New York-based dancehall disc jockey DJ Lava has mixed feelings about returning home next month.

After almost six years being away from the rock, he will make an appearance at Unite Fest in Ocho Rios on December 10.

"I'm excited to travel to Jamaica but this was a trip I was to take with my mother," an emotional DJ Lava told THE WEEKEND STAR.

It will be the disc jockey's third Christmas without his mother, Yvonne Taylor, who passed away in April 2020, but he said the grief lingers as though it was yesterday.

Throughout the pandemic, DJ Lava garnered more followers when he began hosting the Instagram Live show dubbed 'Chat and Laugh', "as a means to get people through stressful times".

He also admitted that it was a coping mechanism through his period of mourning.

"People were locked up, in quarantine, and DJ Lava was there jus' a chat and laugh and putting a smile pon dem face," he said. "Sometimes the show is not planned. Most times it is not planned and people pop up and pop in which the audience enjoys. I just bring that raw energy and that is what I want to give at Unite Fest. Raw entertainment."

Several dancehall entertainers have appeared on the series including Spice, Ding Dong, LA Lewis, Pamputtae, I-Octane and Lincoln 3Dot, and DJ Lava has dreams to host international hip hop superstars such as DJ Khaled and 50 Cent in the future. He has already invested in merchandise for the brand that includes sweatsuits, hats, shirts and shorts sets, which he said has been garnering sales and "spreading the name far and wide".

"I have to thank my supporters for tuning in religiously and purchasing merch[andise]. It is because of them I am able to meet my goal to help people. That is what I like to do and would like to continue having the movement going. Is because of people like Romeich as well, when it's time to give back, he is there. A lot more is coming from me in terms of production as well, so people just stay tuned in and see," DJ Lava shared.