REGGAE’S fastest rising cultural artiste, Byiome ‘I-Octane’ Muir, is poised to take his career to another level. The artiste boldly staked his claim on Dancehall Night at the recent Reggae Sumfest with a memorable performance and has followed through since, entertaining his fans.

Quite in-demand leading up to and during the Independence season, the reggae act performed at Eclipse Summer Invasion in Westmoreland, Mandela Park in St Andrew, Ocho Rios Seafood Festival, the annual Denbigh celebrations in Clarendon, the Independence show at Ken’s Wildflower in Portmore, Manchester Fiesta in that parish and put in a tight set at Saturday night’s Miss Jamaica (World) coronation show.

It was at the recent Eclipse Summer Invasion in party capital, Negril, that I-Octane again put in a credible performance. Coming on stage right after Aidonia, I-Octane went straight into a riveting set as he did songs such as Lose A Friend, My Life, Puff It, Mama and Take A Little Time. All these singles have been enjoying massive play on radio and in the dancehall, enabling fans of all ages to sing along with I-Octane word-for-word on many of his songs. As one 12-year-old female fan commented at the recent Stunt Festival at the Police Officers Club in St Andrew, “I-Octane a mi boss… mi know all him song dem.”

“When the emcee mention I-Octane name, even the leaves on the trees rail fi him,” is how singer Stevie Face once summed it up.

Quite happy at the movement of his career, I-Octane, whose ready smile is part of his charm, noted that he is just doing what he does best, “making good music and entertaining fans.”

And entertaining fans is exactly what he did when he performed on General Degree’s Manchester Fiesta on August 7. Taking the stage after many of reggae/dancehall’s big names, I-Octane, who was called up by Konshens, was in a no-nonsense mood.

I-Octane then unleashed the song Puff It, whose lyrics contain the word “forward” several times. The crowd loved it.

With the busy Independence season behind him, I-Octane is looking to spread his wings and land on the international circuit in what is anticipated to be a hectic Christmas season.