AFTER his first performance at Reggae Sumfest as a solo act, Laza Morgan found time to Flexx with TEENage, about his budding career.

Laza Morgan is the latest Jamaican artiste to be fast rising on the international circuit. His music has two key ingredients needed for crossing over, and this is melodiousness and vocal clarity. It also doesn’t hurt that he has the ability to pen heartwarming lyrics to match his delivery for the masses.

Laza Morgan was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and is one of the legendary reggae singer Denroy Morgan’s 29 children. His siblings also include world-renowned reggae group Morgan Heritage, and members of LMS, a disbanded reggae group.

During LMS’s tenure, the trio released albums such as Reality Check, Zion’s Gate, Straight From The Root, and London 2 Paris. London 2 Paris was their last album and was released in 2005. It was then that Morgan said he became a solo artiste.

Morgan’s solo career got a breakthough in 2009 when he started to work with California-based production outfit Family Affair. Their partnership sparked the single This Girl, that not only landed Morgan a deal at international record label Atlantic Records, but also gained the song a placement on the soundtrack for the movie Step Up 3D.

Since then, he has further decorated his resumé by releasing his debut mixtape entitled First Look, and being featured on albums from artistes such as Flo-Rida and British songstress Alexandra Burke. He has also released his breakout single locally titled One By One, that features Mavado.

“You know, One By One’s success in Jamaica totally took me by surprise,” Morgan said, adding that “the song’s biggest support is in Jamaica”.

He said that Mavado’s complementing guest appearance was a mutual decision by him and the executives at Atlantic Records.

When not in the studio, Morgan said that he has developed his own skateboarding company called Korna King.

“My wish for Korna King is to bring skateboarding to those who aren’t exposed to the sport in Jamaica by building skate parks throughout the island.”

He also noted that he’s in talks for the Korna King’s first skate park to be built in St Thomas, the home parish of his father Denroy Morgan.

In addition to Korna King, Morgan said that every one can look out for the release of a video for One By One, an EP later this year, and his debut album at the top of 2012, which he says he already has a completed BOB collaboration.

Leaving some words of advice for upcoming artistes, Morgan said “to have faith, stay humble and love what you do.”

— Dominic Bell