Last Saturday presented a pleasant surprise for teenAGE Observer writers, as popular local artiste Konshens paid a visit to our weekly editorial meeting. We quickly learnt that he is very engaging, and can withstand the pressure of being quizzed by over 20 curious teenagers. No area of his life was left untouched – we asked everything, and he did not withhold the answers. Here are some things we discovered about the Winning hit maker. No doubt, know you too will learn something new, or just find another reason to love Konshens.TA: How was your recent ‘Music for a Cause’ high school tour? It was a good experience. Nice energy, nice vibes. We achieved a lot of things, and we looking forward to continuing.

Konshens:

TA: Do your tattoos have meanings? All of them.  The one that says ‘Success is a journey, not a destination’, me get that one when me make me first million dollars. When me was a youth a grow up, one million dollars seemed like a whole heap of money. And you know, when you start make money, it easy fi get distracted and start feel like you bigger than everybody else. The tattoo is just a reminder.

Konshens:

TA: And your red hair, what is the reasoning behind it? You know say me just lose a bet, and red hair was the result. I can’t tell you the bet, but the hair was supposed to be for five years. Me not even know how many years me gone now.

Konshens:

TA: How did you get involved in music? My older brother Delus is the person weh me really follow and go studio. At the time I just finished high school, so I was about 17.

Konshens:

TA: What is the highlight of your career? Me can’t really pinpoint one thing. There has been so many. But just to wake up every day and know say me a do music and this is my work, every day is a highlight for me.

Konshens:

TA: What is your favourite collaboration that you have done? She’s Happy. I did that with my brother Delus.

Konshens:

TA: What is your favourite Konshens song?The Realest Song

Konshens: 

TA: When was the first time you remember thinking, “Wow, this really happened to me”?

Konshens: The first time me see somebody tattoo my lyrics onto them skin. The lyrics were from The Realest Song, “keep bad mind outta me heart”. About five people me see have it so far.

TA: What other businesses are you involved in aside from music?: Well, I can’t speak of everything, because most of them on the ‘DL’, but everybody know about the shoes that I had that was discontinued. We ago re-launch and re-brand.

Konshens

TA: How does your ‘Konshens’ persona differ from your true self, which is Garfield Spence?Well Garfield was more of an introvert, more soft spoken and more timid. But I think Konshens beat him up. Living in Jamaica, if you work hard and celebrate your achievements, people will say you hype. But there comes a point when you realise say you can’t watch what people say, you just have to do what you need to do. So you find say me will talk firmer, because I am surer of myself. That is just the person that I am now. No ‘Garfield’ and ‘Konshens’ difference.

Konshens: 

TA: Is there any award or recognition that you have ever gotten that you treasure more than everything else?

Konshens: Well, me can’t pinpoint one award, but I treasure the feedback from my fans, especially those on Facebook. Like when somebody messaged me and told me dem did ago commit suicide, and me put out a song, and di song change dem mind.

TA: As the leader of the Subkonshus music group, how stressing is it to manage your career, while still being somewhat responsible for the careers of other artistes?: Very stressing. Being Konshens every day is very stressing in itself. To deal with my work level, and my obsession with music, and the workload that comes with it is very stressing. So to find a section in my brain to find time for others is very stressing, especially when things don’t run smoothly. 

Konshens

TA: What has been your biggest challenge in the industry?

Konshens: There are many challenges. Dealing with co-workers is a challenge. Also, there is still no formula to getting a hit song.  Fi deal with bad mind from all angles is a challenge. It is also difficult to filter how fans come at me, and my reaction.

TA: How do you balance being a father and an entertainer?

Konshens: There is no balance. It is impossible to find a balance. I think the most important thing is the people in your life and the role weh dem play fi help you go through. Like my daughter’s mother. She is a wonderful mother. Same goes for my son’s mother too. They make it much easier for me to be a father and an artiste.

TA: What is the next big thing for Konshens?

Konshens: The industry is very unpredictable. So for me, the next big thing is just fi continue being an artiste fi as long as me can, and to be in a position where me can produce more music.