As a student attending Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St James, Ayetian often wrote poetry as a means of entertaining his peers. However, upon the recommendation of one of his teachers, he decided to record music.

“I realised that I had a talent for music when I was in grade 9. I was writing some poems and a teacher said that it was lyrical. So I started to call myself Lyrical. I was beating some of my peers in clashes just by writing poetry and I decided to start recording music. That’s when I changed my name to Ayetian,” the 20-year-old Montpelier resident told the Jamaica Observer recently.

Ayetian currently has the #1 song locally with Balance (1Gyal Everyday), which is featured on producer DJ Mac’s Down rhythm.

His fortunes have changed since the song exploded on social media platform TikTok, while topping multiple iTunes reggae charts across the Caribbean and in Jamaica.

Success wasn’t what the deejay of Haitian heritage expected when he recorded Balance.

“I didn’t foresee the success of the song. Mi never know it woulda go so far. Mi did feel it would have a little vibe, because it was on a wicked juggling. Even before Balance, I did a song called Bomb, which spoke about the happenings in Haiti. But Balance really buss a Trinidad first,” said Ayetian.

A remix of Balance titled Truth and Balance, which features soca star Machel Montano and R&B singer Ne-Yo, was released earlier this month. He performed the remix alongside Montano at Trinidad Carnival, where Montano called him out, a major co-sign for the remix.

“I didn’t see myself becoming an entertainer. I wanted to become a farmer or an entrepreneur investing in farming, because everyday people go to the market,” said Ayetian who released his first official song It’s Not Easy, while in the 11th grade.

In February, he released the five-song EP titled Trini Pack, which was produced by Trap Milli/Lifestyle Musik Group/Spaj Phoenix Records.

“The EP has been well-received here in Jamaica and especially in Trinidad. I am also working on another EP titled Ten Pack, which is coming soon. In the meantime, I have a song to be released featuring Tommy Lee Sparta. He was one of the artistes that I looked up to when I was growing up. I also listened to Rytikal, Skillibeng and Chronixx,” Ayetian, real name Malik Tercien, shared.

The success of Balance has taken Ayetian to countries such as St Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Cayman, Trinidad, and recently performing in Barbados.

Ayetian says a lot of work needs to be done for Jamaican music to once again make the global impact that it once had.

“We need to be making different types of music. Yuh cyaan just a perform fi one crowd. Try experimenting with wid suppen else. From yuh get a different crowd a look een, everybody ago look een once other people a look een. When Skillibeng dropped
Wap Wap, Jamaica never liked it, but it worked for him overseas,” charged Ayetian.

Ayetian