Tahz sings of childhood struggles
HAVING grown up in the gritty St James community of Glendevon, singjay Tahz is accustomed to the challenges of urban life.
He says the struggles of his childhood can be heard in some of his songs including his current releases, Choose Yuh Friends Carefully and One Pants.
“Growing up in Glendevon was tough, but in my case family was always
there,” Tahz told the Jamaica Observer. “That was important.”
Choose Yuh Friends Carefully (done with Chi Ching Ching) was produced by Legionaire Records while Tahz handled production for one pants which is released by his Glendevon Records.
He says both songs have got “positive response” in the dancehall and from radio
disc jockeys.
Born Mervis Irving, Tahz says he was weaned on the music of singer Tenor Saw, who remains his biggest musical influence.
He first recorded in his early teens but it was not until five years ago that he got a break with the original song, Candle In The Wind, which is still his best known release.
In 2008, he released Rest in Peace which revisited his Glendevon roots. Produced by musician Christopher Birch, Tahz says the song is homage to friends who lost their lives to violence.
One Pants is another nod to Glendevon which is still dogged by intermittent crime. Tahz hopes its message of resillience will reach youths living in tough communities.
