#1: TOP (3) UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL FEMALE 2019 – LILA IKE
It may be somewhat a surprise or ‘upset‘ that Koffee did not win this award, but the ‘Top Upcoming International Female Artist of 2019‘ champ is none other than Jamaican artist Lila Ike. In a year where Jamaica’s top cultural artists ranked poorly, our scene was offered an opportunity to be entertained by a smooth new voice that is pure, soulful and spiritually uplifting. As our fickle industry remains stagnant in a cycle of progress-regress, new-coming artists like Like Ike, though far and few, can only be seen as refreshing.
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Although one would like to compare her, she sounds like no one before, a slight influence of Garnett Silk maybe. Already a crowd favourite in Toronto, Lila Ike, whose career started in 2017, is a gift to an industry thirsty for new blood. At only 25 years young, she offers new appeal, a smooth roots sound, and is grounded by uplifting lyrics, performed over beautiful re-styled vintage rhythms. Her songs connect, because they epitomize life experiences that audiences can relate to – young love in its rawest forms, innocence lost, the struggle for self identification.
Lila’s friendship with Jamaican artist Protoje led to her being under his wings and launching her career. Past releases include ‘Biggest Fan‘, ‘Second Chance‘, and currently, ‘Where I’m Coming From‘. With a growing fan base and heading towards a dozen singles released to date, Lila Ike remains one of the most captivating and sought after artists in our reggae scene today.
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Congratulations to Lila Ike for championing our ReggaeMania.com ‘Tops’ Awards for ‘Top Upcoming Female Artist 2019‘.
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