Today we have interviewed a new rising star from Jamaica: J Written. The young Artist Jason Rasheed Wright, stage name J Written, was born in 1994 and he was destined for musical prowess from an early age.
Growing up with his mother, father, and two sisters, J Written’s life was blighted by financial instability and constant moving around various areas of Kingston, Jamaica.
“I was unable to socialise with my peers because of my parent’s fear of negative influences,” says Written.
“I was forced to stay inside the house with my sisters. This is how I found out that writing and reading was an easy way to escape the grey reality. I wrote daily journals and personal articles on the wall of my homes.”
Writing poems, speeches, and essays helped sharpen the tools he uses today. He joined the debate team at his high school Bridgeport High, which gave him the confidence he needed power.
He later discovered a talent for dance even forming a squad at the age of 16. The troupe known as the Acez Dancers took Kingston by storm.
Despite those moves, he felt there was something missing in his life. He was still writing but dancing and writing were not enough.
I was also studying for my flying pilot’s license and completed the first part of my training but was unable to complete the process due to economic pressures.
So, at the age 18, he started to fiddle with his old broken-down computer at home, selecting and building beats. Then he started to sing on his own riddims putting a title to one of his productions called “Top Floor Music”.
His passion for music continued: he was often visiting various prominent studios in Jamaica, including JAMINS in Trench Town.
JAMIN studio Fifth Street Trench Town has become his camp where his career began to take a new socially conscious shape. His first notable release was as lead singer with the Right Band. The track is entitled “Remember December”, which focuses on the economic stress of Christmas. Next up he got a major release featuring international Recording Artist Alborosie entitled “Fear to Understand” which gives a different highlight in J Written’s musical journey.
Gege Vibes: Hi Written what’s up? At what stage is your musical journey?
J Written: I just observe what I see happening around me, then I transform it into lyrics of my songs. I’m also lucky cause right now I have a support team who is managing me and I’m trying to achieve the highest standard in what I do.
G.V. About the highest standards in your career, what about your experience with Bunny Wailers? How did it start?
J.W. We became connected through King Calie and Dre Tosh when they brought bredrens who I was with at that time to his museum to rehearse for a couple of shows. Over time his son and I became close, but the family did not know me as a singer, I was just the bredren around the musicians. Now they appreciate my artistic skills as well.
G.V.: What do u think is the biggest result you actually achieved during your career then?
J.W. To be honest I’ve done so much in my career, but the real highlight of all if it was when someone reached out to me saying that somehow I helped to make his burden lighter. He just listened to one of my songs. I think that’s what all artists should aim for. It means to make a positive impact on someone’s life.
G.V. You just talked about positivity. In your opinion why is it important for the new generations to keep doing positive reggae music?
J.W. I believe in all the positive music, no matter what the genre is. I found over time that I express myself better using Reggae, but whatever style is used to bring across the message is a thumbs up for me.
G.V. What’s the message beside your single ‘Fear to Understand’ featuring Alborosie? And how was it to collaborate with him?
The song “Fear to Understand” is showing the people who believe that they are a failure that they have the power every day to change the way they look at themselves.
G.V. Are you planning to release any official album?
J.W. Albums and more projects are always at the forefront of my mind, if I even tried to slow down and stop it would be like trying to bottle the sea. There are lots more projects coming soon. I am currently in studios working on my EP due to be released early next year 2021. I generally just go with what my energy tells me.
Eugenia Conti
