Emerging reggae artiste ManyLights is mourning the death of a close friend who died suddenly at the start of the year, inspiring him to do a single, Fly Away, to honour his fallen friend.

“Buck was an incredible human being, full of eclectic charm. He was someone that I wanted to take with me on this music journey. I thought the best way to honor him is through song as music is what we connected about most. I was crying through the writing of the entire song,” he shared.

It is a bitter-sweet time for ManyLights as personal success is now mixed with personal loss. The singer had finally secured the release date for his first major single in January when Buck died two days later.

“The lesson is that you have to chase your dreams because you never know which day is your last, and you have to be able to manoeuvre and persevere through loss. That’s why I wrote the song in a way that anyone who has lost someone can relate and use it to reminisce and heal. I am getting very positive feedback,” the artiste, whose real name is DuRae Wilkinson, said.

ManyLights is also amping up the promotion of a single, Rampa, produced by producer-artiste Anthony Red Rose, which will be released in mid-February on the Awesome Sauce rhythm project which also features Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Anthony Red Rose, Bounty Killer and other music heavyweights.

The single is doing well on Spotify and Apple Music.

“There are other emerging artistes on the album but I’m the only one being released as a single amongst guys I grew up listening to. Yes I am very excited, I give God thanks every day,” he said.

ManyLights is the son of Delroy Leo Wilkinson, who was a recording studio engineer, reggae producer and artiste.

ManyLights has many skills as he is a professional photographer and videographer with his own company ManyLights Photography & Film Inc, and he has produced and acted in a couple short films. His first project, Happiness, won the award for best local film in the Toronto Urban Film Festival in 2013. He then followed up with a film called Give.

“We are all many lights, many bright and gifted people in our own ways. I have many gifts and talents to showcase to the world,” he said.