As a child, up-and-coming dancehall/reggae artiste Trisstar had only one dream – to be a singer. But her dreams were destroyed when, after writing her first song, she was discouraged by someone close.

But natural talent does not stay hidden. The 18-year-old, given name Tricia Cunningham, was reintroduced to her first love while in high school. Since then, with a fiery determination, she has been on a non-stop journey to share her story through music.

Here are eight questions with dancehall artiste Trisstar:

1. When did you decide that you wanted a career in music?

As early as I can remember I was singing. My mom was a singer and I would sing in church with her. I wrote my first song when I was in the fourth grade and I shared it with someone close to me and they discouraged me from doing it. So I stopped until I reached high school and started writing music again. At that time, I was doing it to help me study, help with my grades when we would have creative projects and it grew on me. I got more serious about it and I started writing about how I am feeling and it just grew from there.

2. What are some lessons you have learnt?

I learnt that things don’t always go as you expect them to and that it won’t all fall into place at once. Things take time and a music career takes patience. I learnt that I shouldn’t let things get to my head, so I appreciate all the positive comments but also listen to constructive criticism, but I am not going to let them determine whether I stop doing music or not. Not again.

3. What impact do you hope to make in the music industry?

I hope to leave a positive impact on the music industry. I hope that my voice can bring the message that someone needs because I write songs based on my reality, and the reality of others around me. So I hope that in telling my story, I can help someone going through the same thing, or motivate someone to keep going.

4. Female dancehall artistes have often described the genre as difficult to break into, are you concerned about this?

It has been difficult but I am not afraid. I am going to face everything that being in dancehall throws at me because music is something that I am passionate about; it is something that I am determined to get. I am willing to face whatever challenge, and I am going to overcome.

5. Who are some of your influences and why?

I look up to certain artistes, mainly the positive ones like JahVinci, Chronic Law, Yaksta, Nation Boss, and Deep Jahi because I grew up listening to them so automatically I look up to them in the music world. My brother and mother are two of my biggest inspirations and my biggest supporters. They always motivate me to go for what I want, especially in music.

6. Tell us about your most recent video release, ‘Broken’?

‘Broken’ is a very personal song for me. It is relating some things that were happening to me and other things I have experienced before. As I said, I always sing about my reality but I also intend on doing other types of music; nothing degrading but it will be topics people can still relate to.

7. How have popular trends influenced the type of songs that you produce?

I am not easily influenced by what is going on around me and because my music is based on what I am feeling and also wanting to make people happy, it is hard for my music to be dependent on trends. So whatever trends are going on in music or society, they would not necessarily influence what I write.

8. What is next for Trisstar?

I am currently promoting ‘Broken’, and I am working on more songs to put in rotation. I am trying to get some stage shows as well so I can promote my talent more. I will continue to promote my music on Tiktok @trisstar_official and my socials but I want to be out in the public, physically, so I can connect with the people more.