From his days growing up in Westmoreland, sports and music were Oshayne Foote’s favourite pastimes. When he migrated to Canada, he continued to pursue his interest in music and took on the stage name Shayne Amani.

“Music started from a very young age for me because my family was heavily involved in church,” Shayne Amani shared in an interview with the
Jamaica Observer last week while he was on vacation in Ocho Rios.

He said that life led him to studying massage therapy at G C Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine, with the intention to become a physical education teacher when he had to put his studies on hold.

“[I]t was either music or something within the realm of sports that I wanted to pursue. My reason for leaving G C Foster was actually a family decision. I did get through for university in Canada after making the decision to move with family, but due to insufficient funds I wasn’t able to continue my education,” h explained.

After releasing songs such as Smiley Face, Hold On and Weak Fence, Shayne Amani has finally scored a hit song in Canada.

New Dawning, a song inspired by personal events, was crowned the new #1 on the Rebel Vibez Top Ten Canadian Reggae chart.

The chart-topper caught Shayne Amani by surprise.

“I got a call from Miss Mullings [Carrie Mullings of Rebel Vibez], who shared the news about the chart that my song was at #1. At first, I tried to hold back the emotions, but after that conversation I started giving thanks to God. I was overwhelmed with joy,” said Shayne Amani.

Released last September via Roots Circuit Records, New Dawning was produced by Shayne Amani, while Idriss Nandi did the mixing and mastering.

Bassist Christopher McClymont, drummer Anas Kehihel, and guitarist Ryan Sousa were the musicians who contributed to the project.

He shared the inspiration behind the song.

“Due to changes with personal life, among other things, those were what propelled me into putting pen to paper, which with the changes during and after the pandemic I felt a 360-degree turnaround in a new normal environment of a New Dawning,” he said.

The journey to the top hasn’t been an easy one for Shayne Amani.

“Well, I would say it’s been an interesting experience with highs and lows trodding this long. I did try pursuing music while even in college, but due to lack of knowledge and experience in the business at the time things just didn’t work out,” Shayne Amani stated.

Although roots reggae music is his first love, he also infuses other genres of music.

“I am very open about my creative process, and I fuse a lot of genres most of the time, but at the same time I try to keep the roots of reggae music alive,” he said.

Two years ago he released the EP titled Speak Life, a six-track project.

He has also collaborated with multi-JUNO-award-winning reggae artiste Kirk Diamond.