UNLIKE his father who has made a name on the track in horse racing, Hernando Griffiths, is racing to distinguish himself on the music scene. This son of legendary Jamaican racehorse jockey, Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths, is speeding towards the winning post, musically that is, in a determined bid to establish the name Nando.

Four fresh tracks on which Nando is currently riding high are Say What You Wanna, Rude, Look At All These Girls, and Get Better, the video for which he was here to shoot a week ago when the Observer caught up with him.

“One reason we are here is to shoot the video for the single, Get Better. I am doing reggae along with some pop songs, but it definitely has an international sound. However, the heart of my music is reggae,” Nando explained.

Although staying true to his roots, Nando, whose father bought him his first guitar, branches off into pop on the track Look at All These Girls as well as the soca-reggaeton hybrid Rude, giving a glimpse of his skills on just about any and all musical tracks.

It is precisely this unlimited creativity that has propelled ace producer Barry O’Hare, to lend his expertise on a number of tracks for Nando’s upcoming debut album.

“It all started for me with the team that I am working with, Heart to Heart Music, who is very supportive of my efforts. So we are growing at this point,” Nando attests.

“Along with that,” he goes on, “we have songs that we are working on now. We actually did four songs, three of which are actually being played on the radio now. This is my third video that I am working on right now.”

Nando, who has been performing in various places in the world, says that among his most cherished moments in music so far have been a gig in New York — where he is based — with singer Lauryn Hill and appearing as opening act on a show in Russia, where the video for Look At All These Girls, was shot.

Although vigourously pursuing a career in music, Nando has also pursued higher education.

“Before music, my academic studies took me to the Baruch City College in New York where I was studying economics along with music minor in music theory….,” the past student of Jamaica College, who left Jamaica in 1998 recounted.

Now a benefits examiner who does retirement planning, Nando is reaching out to the Jamaican fans and wants to appear on one of the major music festivals here.

“That’s what we’re working towards. Jamaica is the land of my birth and you can expect the connection between me and the people who I have grown and lived amongst,” he said.

Although his father brought him his first guitar, which is his favourite instrument, it was his mother who pushed him into music. The new kid on the block enjoyed regular appearances with the New York-based band and also learned to play the piano.

Nando says he is inspired by the music of Bob Marley, and listens to various other reggae and R&B artistes.

“D’Angelo definitely affects me. There are various reggae artistes as well. Of course you have to be aware of what Sean Paul is doing, opening doors, so he is definitely an inspiration as well,” revealed Nando who has plans to release his debut album later this year.