Interview Transcription

So today we have a special guest, a lovely singer, songwriter, originally

from St. Thomas, West Morland raised. She's a Manning's girly and she made her

way to Kingston and began pursuing her career in music. She performs in

different locations around Kingston. A lovely reggae but also some fusion

vibes, a little dance all sprinkled in there and just a lot of power and

strength on the mic. So, here we have Space Cat. Hi guys, how are we doing

today?

Lonely nights got you on my mind. Cross my heart, baby, I'll be kind.

I'll be there in the evening. Lonely night.

baby. So, I wanted to start really with the

latest stuff that you're working on and then backtrack from there. So, if you could tell me, you know, what

you see for 2026 with your music. Um, so I've been experienced a lot of

growth as it relates to just how I express myself and

um topics of discussion. So, I think that going forward it's going to

be a lot more um how would you say deep um just less

surface level and more touching on things that are um

for lack of a better word soul level. Like I feel like I'm going through a lot of metamorphosis and it is definitely

reflecting in the songs that I'm currently making. I feel like everybody

goes through this at some point in their their lives. Um just being taught one

thing, showing up a certain way and then just experiencing life for myself and

then realizing that okay perhaps we need to shift in some ways and in some areas

especially being that the music space for me is very new. I never grew up in a

town and um I did not grow up in music or in those kind of spaces. So learning

those spaces and just understanding what is required to to be

effective or to find success in those spaces. It requires a lot of change in

um identity or how I perceive myself or see

myself. Was there a traditional path you were following before realizing music was

what you wanted to do? Um, I would have, yeah, I mean, I grew

up in the church, you know, I'm supposed to I was probably supposed to be a

teacher. That's that's what I would have studied if I had followed a traditional

path. And teaching is great, you know. Um but for me as a creative as somebody

who um has a need to express themsel to

be authentic to their soul and to their being I don't think the traditional path

would have suited me very well. So, how would you package this metamorphosis

that you're currently going through into, you know, music, palatable music

or not palatable? You know, it could also be experimental and some crazy

stuff no one's ever heard, but how do you see yourself, you know, presenting it publicly?

So, um, for now, I'm focusing mainly on singles. I do have like a a EP in the

work, but I think singles will get the message across pretty effectively. Um,

and it's reggae, so I'm doing mostly reggae

centric music. Now, I do do fusion like I am a fusion artist and

I consider it kind of experimental. Um but it is definitely reggae as it as

it relates to the packaging of the product which is my

I guess my journey in song. Um my voice does the work for me. So I don't even

overthink it too much. I just put what I have in mind on paper and I just sing.

And um as it relates to performing, I would

love for it to be live music and if I can't have like a whole band, then it's

it would be like an acoustic set. Um and you said that singles are what

you're focused on now. Is that is that from just ease, you know, or,

you know, being able to put out something soon without having to wait on this long recording and production

process for an album? Mhm. It's it's it's a little bit about to be honest. Um, the first release that

I ever did was like a five track EP and it was okay. It was a nice experimental

project. What's the EP called? Oh, it's called Love by Association.

it all. It's five tracks and it was centered

around I guess love and relationships. But I find that

I think that persons would gravitate more to singles or they will gravitate

more to singles and it's also easier for me as well because I can be more consistent in my release and um yeah

it's just more digestible. Um, can you talk about the process of recording that? Um,

working with producers and engineers and you know that. Sure.

Sure. So, I had just I'll set the scene. I had just moved to Kingston and um I

said, "Okay, I'm going to do music." So, I started recording at one particular

studio and I guess the vibes was not it for me. it was not the right space and

then I found somewhere else. So the songs that I had started recording for the EP.

I go I went to the second studio and that's where like I I guess refined them

and they sounded a lot better than the first take and I was like okay

um it would be nice to just put it in a project so that I would have a

compilation of songs for for people to choose from instead of just one because

nobody knows me. So that was the thought process behind it. And um

I had a few different beat makers that were associated with this and I thought

I really like the beats that I received. So I was like, "Okay, let me work with

them." And so I got them to send me the beats and I recorded the song and then I

got them mixed and mastered. Um yeah, that's it.

And that's the story. That second studio. Um was it just like

the engineer you were working with? Um or did you meet producers through being

at the studio? What exactly did you prefer? Right. So the energy was

different. The engineer was I feel like he had more knowledge with what it was

that he was doing. So he was giving me suggestions and instructions and um I

really appreciate of that because again very new to this and I know the sounds

that I wanted to create. I know what I heard in my head, but I needed somebody

with the knowhow to kind of put that into, you know, physical. So, the space

was great. The guy was pretty adept. He knew what he was doing, you know. Big

upselves, the king. And I mean I also got to collaborate with

other artists and I met other producers and beat makers from being in that

space. He's also an up and cominging producer as well. Um

so yeah and it was two producers that were part of that EP. So

that's Zing and and um White Black's music. Yeah.

Okay, cool. So you've recorded now and they've mixed

your vocals with the tracks and um you know now you have your EP and now you're

Space Cat and you can go out in the world as a musician. So what was that

like once you had your body of work? Um, still very, it was fun. It was

exciting. It was new. So, I thought to myself, you know, I want to have a

compilation of songs so that I can start performing. That was the whole point of

doing an EP as opposed to singles to begin with. And then when that happened,

I started to go out to open mics and um

I think that's when I started going to dub school, which is like a live event in Kingston. And it was great. You get

to meet new artists, get to interact, network, and um collaborate. So yeah,

once I had those songs, I just started to find the spaces that would

I guess welcome me and also see what I have to offer.

Yeah. Cool. And um I guess on the more digital

side of things, did you have it um placed on Spotify and those streaming

platforms? Was it made available to purchase on like the iTunes store or

through band? Yeah. What did you So, initially I was distributing through

a very popular distributor. I think everybody who does music probably know them uh and they ensure that it goes up

on you know the different music platforms. So definitely it was

distributed um on the different platforms because I mean if you have

music and if you're creating music then you definitely need to give people access and so has to be

distribution is very important. Um, but definitely I started out with just the

the more popular platforms and then I became familiar with Band Camp and Band

Camp is super cool for artists. They they look out for the artist. So yeah.

So yeah, it's called soundtrack at the moment. So I'll just give you a moment and you tell me a song that would fit

it. It could be one of yours. It could be any song you like. Okay. You're driving at 3:00 a.m. with the

windows down. You're from St. Thomas, right? Mhm. Yeah. So, you know that the road is all

cute and paved now. So, let's say you're driving into Kingston from St. Thomas on

a smooth nice up road against the shore. What is the soundtrack for that moment?

Oh, okay. You see, the thing about these kinds of games is that even if I know

the songs, it's just so in the moment. It's going to take a minute for me to um

need something that is cruise worthy, you know, something that is very Sunday

afternoon, chill breeze, sunset kind of vibes.

3:00 a.m. So, just just noting that that was part of it. It's 3:00 in the morning.

Oh, but I mean that could still be the vibe. It is cruising.

It's stuff that could play at sunset, but it is like early early morning.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Cool. So,

um there is this song that I wrote recently and recorded that is

unreleased. It's it's called Time. It's very chill. I mean, I could sing a

part of it, but I don't know if that's what you're wanting. Please do.

Okay. I just need to take my time. Can't get

it out of my mind. I need to find my place. What I need, I don't have to

chase. Take my time. I know every day the sun

go shines. I'm going to waste no time.

Nice. That's it. It's airy. Yeah, your voice. Yeah, it has a aireriness that makes it feel

light and cruisy. Yeah. Yeah. Is is All right. Give me an

Oh, I was just asking if the beat for that song is like a reggae type or more of a fusion.

Boy, that's a good question. It's not reggae. It's more of a fusion, like a

dance hall, but also very

hip hoppy. Um, yeah. Yeah, I hear.

It's very cool though. Yeah, I I I think that makes more sense than the just a reggae beat. Okay, so

another scenario, you're glowing up after a breakup. Mhm.

You know, you're putting on clothes, you're feeling cute, maybe you're still

hurt inside, but you're, you know, optimistic and positive. So, what is a

soundtrack for that moment? I mean, that should be an easy one, actually.

However, um, there is this doi.

I think it's called Bloom. I really like that doi. I think that would be perfect.

Okay, I'm I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to just spontaneously think of one. Um

Okay. A producer holding on to your song and you're upset. You know, you just want it

finished. How long now it's supposed to finish? weeks have passed and um yeah,

you have a looking glass around there or something? A magic mirror or like a a

crystal ball or is it happening? It's happened. It's it's it's happening.

Yeah. Yeah. It's it's one thing that um I wouldn't say I experienced it totally,

but um I I did voice on somebody's beat

and I just felt like they were taking so long to give me that I just took the beat and I mixed the thing myself.

I wouldn't get like that because it would solve so many problems and it would limit so many stressful

situations, you know. So yeah. Yeah. So yeah, for that feeling when

you're just upset, your song not ready yet. What is a song that represents

that? Um

um it's funny cuz I don't know if you listen to Tommy Lee, but he has a song

called Shelly Christmas. I don't know.

Why? That's the song that comes to mind. But that's the song that comes to mind. But it it can you know it.

Is he angry in it? Yeah. It's like it's rage. Like it makes you want to rage, man. It makes you want

to curse and break things. Makes me want to curse and break things.

La.

Okay, cool. Christmas. So, yeah, when things

Christmas. Yeah.

You know, I would say that the Kingston live music scene exists. It could grow.

It could be frequent occurrence but you know we're grateful for what is there. So where have you found

yourself performing? Is there any event that you find you continue to perform at or any

promoter who you continue to work with? Um yes actually I find that I there are

a few spaces that I find myself going to quite frequently or not even frequently but if I'm going somewhere that's

probably you know where I'm going to go and dubise has been one of those places

that I've performed quite a handful of times and it's a very

lovely music space. It has um it's just a good space. It's like a creative

central. People are creative people are always there. Like they're always passing through and they also always

have like live events, open mic events, so dub wise. And then I've also

performed at Skyline levels. So that's pretty dope. Um they had a culture works

show last December, 2024 December actually. And um I was on

that lineup which was pretty dope. Um compound also and the lot. I've also

performed at the lot. So if there is like a space in Kingston that has open my chances are I'm going to go there you

know. But those spaces that I've mentioned, dub wise, skyline levels, the

compound, um those are the spaces that have a consistent

open mic scene or live music scene. Um and also you have different

what what you call it now spin-off events like um you have events like future roots under the almond tree and

uh yeah so there's a few spaces in Kingston but as you said we do need

more. What would you suggest to players in the industry

in Jamaica? You know, you know, like how they have trade unions for people who do

certain types of work. The common thing or the common belief is that the

infrastructure, the musical infrastructure out here is needs a

revamp. It's not like it's not organized. There is not much of a structure. And I guess that's true

because if there was more structure, artists like me, you know, young upcoming artists, I think they would

have more of a

guidance just like people who've done it before. And there are people like that out here.

I'm not saying that there aren't. They are and they are trying. I just think that there if there was more structure

in place, it would make it less stressful and way easier for everybody to um to get to where they want to go.

And um that would also help with the performing outside of the island

situation cuz it's not impossible, but I think that there are challenges

to do so as a um a new artist on the

scene. So infrastructure structure more structure and

organization but also as individual artists as like

me you in general I think it's we also have a responsibility you know

if we're going to be contributing to the space we can also do something as well um

just like how we used to have clubs in high school we could form an organization of our own. Um there are

many things that can be done. It's just a matter of I guess research and

knowhow. Yeah. And money everything takes money

apparently. Yeah. I also think maybe even simply purity of spirit because I feel like

labels exist because as you were speaking I thought of labels and I don't feel like there's just no labels. I feel

like there are labels but then there's all these bad stories about these labels where you sign and then not look upon

you like they're not trying to advance you. They just shelf you and

yeah sh focus on their one main artist. They have like 15 artists on the back burner,

but there's one that, you know, is popular and touring and all of that. And

um yeah, you know, like you said, like we do, we have we have sense, we have

little sense, you know, Google, we all have AI.

Um that is it now to suggest stuff, you know. So the

barrier to entry or the yeah we we do have means now like resources are there

it's just a matter of willingness and capacity to do

you know yeah last year they had a conference I don't remember the name of it but it was

very knowledgeable it was it was full of knowledge it was very insightful and I

actually learned a few things like cuz um initially there are many

performance rights organizations that one needs to register with and then you have mechanical licensing organizations

and then you have all those all those different organizations as artists that if you are

in the music business then you need to register with it so that you can actually earn something or see

um something of benefit. So I find that

those kind of workshops definitely bridges the gap as it relates to like

um knowing what it is that one needs to do to actually

make a living out of music. If if I mean I love music and if I could just do it

and not do anything else Yeah. I would, you know, so

it would be nice to have a followup after these workshops. Can I just add because they did um

Lang is his name. I don't my apologies for um if I'm if I mess up the name, but

he actually has a nice um thing that he's working on a project where it's

business admin or administration for artists. So basically he has like a

campus. It's all online and stuff and you can register and you can learn how

to register your music, how to deal with your catalog. And after that workshop

that I mentioned, he actually had like a a music business brunch. And with the

music business brunch, it also went more in depth into like

whatever was discussed in the workshop. so that persons who wanted more information, they could ask directly to

some of the people that were there. So, I thought that was a pretty good idea, a great initiative.

I'm curious about your music video process and how did you come up with

that concept? Did you work with a director? Are you the director?

Well, I was the director. The the videographer was also the director and

um a nice gentleman who is an actor was also there to help direct as well. But

the concept of the video, it was done

on the day of the video. So, big up Abina Mystic, which is she's also an

artist as well. She helped with the the setup of everything. Um,

yeah.

Psychotic behavior right now. Feeling

fine. It's a song that speaks about um I guess

how one shows up when they're not feeling fine or rather

so sometimes we're not okay and we have people around us that care and we might

not be able to verbalize that. Oh, you know, I don't have the capacity to deal with you right now because I'm dealing

with so much. And I mean, if I was in that position with

no capacity to deal with anything because I'm dealing with so much, I

would want the people in my life to be able to say to me, you know, I get I get you. We we we all want patience. We all

want to be accepted for who we are in all our different um shades or rather

states of being. So yeah, that's that's really what it is.

There is a line there that says that the dark just means say you're empty.

Something to that effect. And somebody asked me what that mean one

time and I was just like darkness is a lack of knowledge. Like it's akin to not

knowing something. It's akin to ignorance, you know. And often times we

feel empty. We feel like there's something lacking within us. And that

lack is just not knowing, you know. So not knowing who we are, not knowing that

we're loved, that not knowing that you know we are purposeful.

How were those meanings portrayed through the video or were

it's a very good were they all portrayed since it's quite layered. um the video making process,

even though I would have wanted to like have like a story line um get it all

done up nice and proper to associate with the song or coincide with

the song. I I I left it up to my creative director, Abina. She um came up

with the idea of having like a gallery type set. I think the art that was showcased at the beginning of the video

and in between the different um moments in the video, those art pieces kind of

spoke volume uh in regards to like the content of the song cuz there was a lot

of um symbology with like relationship and connection and the challenges around

that and just like the heartbreak and you know just humans and human emotions.

So that part of it was good.

Is there any other song of yours that you would make a video for soon?

probably for the cause because um yeah um the producer who is affiliated with

that he really wants to get a video out and he's pushing for that so I'm pushing with him for that. So for the cause for

sure okay and what is the cause about it's about pushing for what it is that

we want. It's about not giving up. Also knowing who one who we are. Um not

listening to the noise. Just knowing what you want, setting your intentions and accepting nothing less.

Do you have a vision for the video yet? You know, it has to be

a go-getter type of vibe, you know, like how you would have Usain Bolt practicing for the Olympics because it's Usain Bolt

and he he always wins. Like he's just on top

of his game. Something like that. just like okay you got to get ready you got

to be prepared preparedness and just the energy that is related with

that and then you know some culturally culturally

cultural representation I guess um something rootical

listen have a vision And it's in my mind. It's

in my mind's eye. Yeah. Well, I'm excited to see when it does materialize.

Yes. Where can the people find you? Oh, you can find me everywhere. I'm

Space Cat. You've got space all around. I'm joking. Um I'm on Instagram and um

YouTube and all the different streaming platforms, you know.

Yeah. So for music, wherever you listen to music, that's where I am. And you can

stay connected on social media at spacecat. That's sbac

dotkat. Okay. Or just spacecat music.

Okay. Awesome. All right. Well, thank you so much, Space Cat. We look forward to, you know, your new music video for

the cause when it gets produced and the recording of time. Was it the the new

song? Yeah. Take my time. I just need to take my time. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We all do. You know, everyone chill out. Everyone take

Yeah. Okay. Well, thanks for taking your time to be here today with the right.

Thank you for having me. All right. And thank you to the viewers for watching. Have a great day. Bye.

Take care. Wild.

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