Two years ago, and after a number of tries at the television talent search Digicel Rising Stars, Akeem “Short Boss” Smith marched home with the coveted title.

Fast-forward to present day and Short Boss is yet to become that true household name every aspiring artiste dreams of.

The Jamaica Observer caught up with him at the Harmony House studios owned and operated by veteran reggae singer Beres Hammond.

He explained that the learning curve in the entertainment industry has been quite steep.

“As a young person I thought it would be easier, but it has been hard. I am learning that winning Rising Stars was just the beginning of my life, so to speak. This journey just gets harder; performances get more complicated. But it’s what I love so I’m in it for the long haul. I’m here to go out, execute and make people have fun. As I go along, I look forward to the challenge and see it as a test. I know if I put in the hard work I will pass with flying colours,” he said.

For Short Boss, staying focused is key. He explained that his life now revolves around his aspirations.

“I was used to 10-minute performances but now I am being asked to perform 20-to-30-minute sets. So now I have to be more prepared, have to learn more songs, write more and be so much more focused. I have to limit the partying and running up and down before a performance. My life has almost become a routine, focusssed on the studio and performances. I have come to realise that the moment you lose focus is the moment you fall back, and I certainly don’t have any time to fall back right now.”

He is currently working on recording singles for an EP but no date has been set for its release. This process of writing and recording is also another area he is slowly learning.

“As the singles come to me I put them out. I’m new to songwriting so it’s taking me a little while to get everything together. Once I write I share with people who I trust… better writers who listen to my stuff and give me their input. It’s always a work in progress.”

Short Boss belongs to that small, elite class of artistes who have been winners of Digicel Rising Stars. One of its members, Dalton Harris who won in 2010, is now steadily climbing the ranks on the UK version of X Factor `— a similar talent search — and has now made it to the semi-final round. Short Boss had nothing but words of encouragement for his fellow alum.

“Continue doing what you’re doing. Keep your head high and keep pushing forward. Always remember we are here to support you 100 per cent.”

— Richard Johnson