The 2010 West Kingston/ Tivoli Incursion was a time of unrest in the community which resulted in a number of deaths. It was from this experience, however, that up-and-coming artiste Maydday DC was born.

Maydday DC, given name Janiel Bailey told OBSERVER ONLINE that he was always interested in music, and was even a member of the church choir as a child. As he got older, he would sing with others in the community, he said.

During that time, however, it was all for fun. In May 2010, the dancehall/reggae artiste decided to make a conscious effort in pursuing a music career when he lost friends, who aspired to be artistes as well, after the security forces stormed Tivoli Gardens in search of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who was wanted by the US authorities for crimes committed in that country.

“I started music when I was around nine or 10 but took it serious in 2010 when the West Kingston Incursion happened in May of that year. That’s why me choose that name, Maydday, because I lost a lot of friends and coworkers who are musicians too,” Maydday DC said.

“We used to sing for joy and for fun and when me see that them dead and we never really get fi do what we were planning to do in the music industry, me kinda take it more serious. I even changed my name and create a whole different character with Maydday DC in honour of my friends. I was formerly known as Dontay C.R.I.M.E which is an acronym for creating rhymes intelligently musically experienced,” he added.

During his decade long music journey, Maydday said he has learnt a lot about music and the impact it can have on people. As a result he tailors his songs to appeal to those around him, while touching on popular topics.

He added that while he is a dancehall/reggae artiste, he has ventured into other genres, like roots and culture, to ensure his message gets across.

“I mostly sing about pain and things that I have been through and what others have been through; sufferation. I do explicit songs like for the girls who love party and dance and the bad man style of music that people love and endorse too but that don’t mean anything because it’s just entertainment. Me just a do what people want- party tune, money tune, upliftment tune. Me like encourage people still so me always a try bring that out in my music,” the 31-year-old said.

He told OBSERVER ONLINE that people have given him plenty of positive feedback on his music, with them citing his lyrical style as the thing that stands out most. Maydday DC also posited that the reason people love his music is due the fact that he is not only a lyricist but a vocalist as well.

“Well they are talking a lot of things about my music. They say my lyrics and my metaphors are amazing; they are like poetry. When them listen to my music, it’s like them a watch movie because they can visualise anything me a say to how me carry it across. And I don’t just use lyrics, me use melody as well because I am a singjay too,” the artiste stated.

Maydday DC disclosed that since he started to pursue a career in music, there has been plenty of growth in himself and in the reception of his music. He said that he is being recognised more; he is also getting some bookings and his music views are climbing rapidly on streaming platforms.

This growth has also extended to stage shows as Maydday DC has been booked to perform at this year’s staging of Sting which will be held on Boxing Day, December 26, 2022.

For now however, the artiste is enjoying the great reception some of his releases have been getting.

“One of my latest tracks is going well on YouTube. It is called ‘U I lov’ which was released one month ago. It is a seductive song for the females, who like to party and dance and express themselves. I also have another called ‘Family’ and another called ‘Dark Child’ that is more hard core dancehall,” Maydday said.

His music can be found on all major digital streaming platforms and on YouTube.