Dancehall music is a subgenre of reggae, and its rhythm-heavy beats have won over fans all around the globe. This Jamaican popular music genre has historical and traditional values that emerged from the cultural space, with women being the center of attention. The rhythm of dancehall music is one of the reasons for its popularity among African countries. In the late 1970s, dancehall music borrowed the sinuous rhythms of reggae music but replaced its spirited live musicians with prerecorded or digitally composed tracks built on pure moving grooves. Once the two were merged, this genre received appreciation even beyond the seas. Many music producers in western countries like the United Kingdom and the United States were able to use this to grow their music industry and revolutionize it for the best.
One thing is sure that in recent times, dancehall music has become one of the trending genres and music producers like Sheldon Thaxter, also known as KILLALMIJ, are exploring the true potential of this great musical form. Sheldon is a well-known musician and music producer. He established his own record label company named KILLALMIJ Records. What sets his production house apart from the competition is its originality, cutting-edge music, and support for upcoming artists. Sheldon always believed in providing a platform for the youth to display their talent while channeling their hard work to achieve success. In fact, he has launched many albums and singles that have gone on to break records all around the world.
According to Sheldon, music has always inspired and motivated him to go forward in his life. He always feels that through music, unity and peace can prosper, and that is exactly what he tries to achieve with his compositions. Speaking about why he went with dancehall music, KILLALMIJ shares, “I chose the music because it is so versatile and motivating. Everything around us is beautiful with music. Through this art, our ancestors and we can show affection, love, and peace to one another. And that is what drives me.”
He further went on to explain, “Music can be anything we want, from countries anthem that unites the whole nation to an EDM trance that helps the entire club to dance. It is also the most diverse universe, with every culture and country contributing to its success. As I’m Jamaican born, I believe in channeling our ancestor’s music into today’s modern hip-hop or EDM.”
The musical culture and history of African tribes have always attracted KILLALMIJ, and his attempt to combine today’s music with the historical African sound has been revolutionary. His latest album, Clock Tick Riddim, features multiple talented artists, including 9GRAINZ, Gaza Kim, Potential Kidd, DWAYNO, KingDolla, WUAN BALANCE, & Lyvely. For those who haven’t had the chance to listen to the hit tunes, the album is available on several streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. “The Album contains seven tracks, and all are made with perfection. Dancehall Music and the ladies inspired me to create this album. While this music is for everyone, I believe it will become the youth anthem. It is created on a 90’ authentic dancehall beat with the touch of the modern-day world,” states Sheldon Thaxter.
While the album is making its way to Billboards, two songs are headlining the most. 9Grainz – Tik Tok Tik song received over 100k views on YouTube during the first month, and Gaza Kim – Bubble Up song made its way to the top 10 charts in Jamaica. In fact, it was streamed over 500k times on Spotify; however, Sheldon is of the view that he is just getting started. “The reviews we receive from fans all around the world are incredible. It reminded us of why we create music. Killalmij Records is not money oriented. For us, it is all about inspiring people globally to pursue their dreams and enjoy their lives,” he informs.
The fact is that music has a special place in everyone’s lives. From being used in independent campaigns to remembering our loved ones, music helps with our emotions. It is essential to acknowledge musicians like Sheldon Thaxter, who work tirelessly to provide us with incredible melodic tunes. “I have a strong internal drive to keep developing music. For me, it is something that I can’t live without, just like water finds its own flow, I explore music for my fans. It gave me everything, and because of this, I found success,” concludes KILLALMIJ.
