The past week has been a whirlwind for American international dancehall artiste Iesha Nova.

After releasing a remake of the 30-year-old hit Macarena (which she titled Makarena), the feedback from several users on social media was distasteful.

Several people swarmed the comments section on YouTube and Instagram with disparaging comments about the remake. Iesha Nova and her team went back to the drawing board and decided to answer critics with the song Firm, which was produced by DJ RoH and 1Kings.

“Firm is about standing firm despite the obstacles that are in the way. I am not letting negativity get to me. People are entitled to their opinions, but when those comments are distasteful, you just have to take an about turn and come back strong,” Iesha Nova told Observer Online on Friday.

Released January 2, Iesha Nova’s version of Macarena, titled Makarena, was produced by DJ RoH Entertainments0365 Records. She shared why she decided to put her spin on the international hit.

“It’s a popular classic, and I figured that dancehall needs a difference. So, I decided to make it a pop dancehall version,” she said, while explaining how she became familiar with the song.

“Living in America, this song was played at every occasion. From birthdays to weddings, it just took over. The remix with Bayside Boys was the tune back then.”

Since the social media backlash erupted over Makarena, the official video, released on January 2, has to date racked up more than 466,000 views on YouTube.

“I love that in music, when you’re gifted with a craft, you can take anything and make it unique in your own way. Of course, some of my younger Jamaican audience will take some getting used to, but in the same token, it’s getting airplay on its own, and listeners are enjoying the music video,” Iesha Nova disclosed.

Born in the United States, Iesha Nova is of Jamaican parentage.