While her own pursuit of tertiary education has hit a snag, reggae artiste Lila Ike is big on education.

“If a youngster is in school, then they’re supposed to be in school. A lot of people now, because dem realise there is a wave, they want to say: ‘Okay, I’m an artiste and I want to stop school and do this!’ But is nuh really suh di ting go. You cyaan just seh you nuh waah do dis anymore,” Lila Ike told the Jamaica Observer.

The 25-year-old singjay was one of the headliners billed for last Thursday’s inaugural Tracks Live Sessions held at Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records in Kingston. Dre Island and Kacique were also on the bill.

Lila Ike, given name is Alecia Grey, hails from Christiana, Manchester. In 2013, she began Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, where she studied business and literacy. However, relocating to Kingston in 2015 interrupted that journey. She again began a new quest for knowledge, enrolling at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, where she started studying linguistics, which also hit a snag.

“I didn’t decide to stop school…I was very stressed out when I couldn’t afford to do school,” she said.

She said it was a fortunate stroke of serendipity that led her to music.

“It wasn’t something I decided to do…it just happened. Outside of going to school and working, I used to do little jam sessions and hol’ a vibe. Before I knew it, I’m meeting all sorts of people who were interested in working with me on a professional level, so I indulged,” she explained.

Lila Ike made her official debut in April 2017 with Biggest Fan, produced by Protoje’s In.Digg.Nation Collective label to which she is signed.

Her other songs include Gotti Gotti, Second Chance and Where I’m Coming From.

She did her first solo show in Europe this year, including Rototom Sunsplash and Reggae Jam.

“The people dem inna Europe love music, especially our music. I feel like they’re more versed wid wi music and wi culture, so it’s a joy fi perform fi people like dat and it’s always well-accepted,” she said.

Her plans include finishing her studies and producing a hard-hitting album.