Current musical sensation Jahshii has never been to Reggae Sumfest — either as patron or artiste. But is set to make his début this weekend as one of the festival main headliners.

The idea is somewhat daunting for the 21-year-old, but he is equally determined to put his best foot forward and give an account for himself and his music for his fan base.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer‘s Splash, Jahshii shared that he was putting in the work ahead of the country’s major reggae festival and is confident that the hours of rehearsals will pay off.

“The rehearsals go good so mi feel excited fi know this is my first Reggae Sumfest . I’m not feeling any pressure right now, but maybe on the night, because I’ve never been on that kind of stage before, and although I watched it over the years, it has never been something that I experienced… so this will be my first experience and first performance of the Sumfest stage,” he said.

Since emerging onto the music scene just over a year ago, Jahshii has been an audience favourite and it is this interaction with his audience that he is most looking forward to when he makes his maiden appearance on the festival.

“Mi jus’ ah look forward to the audience. Just to stand up there in front of thousands and hear their reaction is what get mi excited. The reaction from the crowd is what me really a look forward to.”

Jahshii will take to the stage on Friday (tonight) along with some seasoned dancehall campaigners as well as a number of the emerging acts, many of whom have embraced Trap, the new wave within the music. The line-up for the first night of performances includes Aidonia, Shenseea, Spice, Alkaline, Ishawna, Masicka, Govana, Teejay, Ding Dong, Laalee, Chronic Law, Skeng, Intence, and Iwaata.

As a youngster on the music scene, Jahshii admits that he is sometimes taken aback by the pace at which his career is moving.

“It’s honestly surprising inna a way because the level weh me see myself, is not the level that people think mi deh pon. Me think me have way far fi go and a whole heap more to learn, and people think this bredda reach weh him want fi reach and see him deh a live him dream, which is not it. We have far, far fi go,” he said.

He noted that there is no specific artiste whose growth and development he is patterning, but rather is pulling as many of the good examples he is observing and learning from other more seasoned acts, in order to chart his personal course. However, he respects to trajectory of fellow deejay Popcaan, and sees him as a mentor and one to watch closely.

Musically speaking, Jahshii is constantly in studio creating new music with his eyes set on a major project in the coming months.

“We do wi work everyday. Shoot videos a lot, cause yuh done know, that visual very important to the music. We are planning for a project really soon. Not sure if its album or EP. We have the songs recorded already it just the timing and strategies we are planning out,” Jahshii noted.

Jahshii, whose given name is Mluleki Tafari Clarke, has been one of the breakout artistes over the past year with his music being popular among a significant portion of the youth market thanks to songs such as Cream of the Crop, Born Fighter, Prosperity, 25/8 and Promise.

Reggae Sumfest concludes on Saturday with performances expected from a strong line-up which includes Beres Hammond, Koffee, Dexta Daps, Sizzla, Christopher Martin, D’yani, and Shaneil Muir. There will also be a tribute to music producer extraordinaire Dave Kelly, featuring Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Cham, Wayne Wonder, Frisco Kid, Mr Easy, and Spragga Benz.