NJAR: “Hard work & Consistency will bring me through!” [Video Included]
“You have to be serious about what you do and consistency is very important, once you are consistent, the fans will accept you and your music,” are the words of young and upcoming artist, Glendon Lamothe.
The 22-year old Sea Cows Bay resident is new to the music scene, and with just a year and a half with his feet wet as a Hip Hop performer, he said that from being consistent and making his love and passion evident for his music, he is accepted by the Virgin Islands (VI) communities as one of their ‘home grown’.
Glendon is the son of popular musician and lead guitarist in VIs top band Showtime, Glen Lamothe.
He said music was instilled in him from a very young age, and the love for music in general was always evident.
In an exclusive interview, he told this news site that as a child his father always listened to Zouk and Soca music, and those are the types of music he grew up on, but never really favoured them. He added that at the age of 17, he started listening to Hip Hop and instantly fell in love with the genre.
According to Mr. Lamothe, his career in music officially started, while hanging out with a friend and he decided to write his own piece, which resulted in positive feedback, where people told him that he sounded good and should continue.
Through that feedback, he was able to channel that positive energy into producing his first mix tape entitled ‘Not just another rapper’, which was released in March 2012, and consists of his hit song, ‘Good Girl’ and many others.
‘Not just another rapper’ is not only the name of his mix tape but is abbreviated as his stage name, ‘NJAR’.
This is his only mix tape/album, as he is currently in studio working on his second entitled ‘The time is now’ and has recently released a track called ‘Dead Broke’.
Through his music, he promotes positivity. “I try to make my music to inspire others. When I see pain on people’s face I go home and write about it.” He added that he writes his music to capture the ears of the young, old and the middle class people.
Like many other local artists of the VI, NJAR writes his own music and records and produces them at Golden Flame Production and Home Grown Studios, both located in Lower Estate, Road Town, Tortola.
The young artist, who is currently without a manager, noted that even though Hip Hop is his passion, he is also capable of writing songs of different genres.
“I can write anything. I write different genres but I prefer to stay in the hip hop field, I see myself doing a little bit of Soca though.”
He has performed at events such as the: Top 7@7 Awards Show, 2012 Music Fest and recently entered a singing competition, VI Idol. “I didn’t make to the top five but I will keep on striving.”
As a local artist, who has just been introduced to the scene and with so many other local artists out there, he markets himself by showing his fans that he is serious about what he does, as well as, shows consistency in his music. “Once you show people that you are consistent and you’re willing to work hard towards your goal, they will give you a chance and can relate to you. As a new artist the people of the BVI have accepted me and my music.”
Being that his father is a local musician, NJAR says his father is a big support and motivation in his life where, he taught him that whatever he is doing, to give it his all.
“Seeing my father’s work ethics towards his music, that alone motivates me.”
In the next two years, he sees himself as someone who others can look up to. “In the next two years, preferably in five years, I see myself as someone who young artists can look up to and say that they want to be like NJAR.”
Other than music, Glendon is a banker by profession for the last five years, where he was employed at the National Bank of the Virgin Islands and currently works at First Caribbean.
For inspiration, he looks up to his favourite moguls and celebrity Hip Hop performers: JCole, Naz and Joe Budden.
He attended the BVI High School now Elmore Stoutt High School, where he graduated in 2007, and is currently contemplating on travelling overseas to study the business aspect of music.
NJAR is also the founder of the Virgin Islands ‘Cypher A Rap’ competition that is held every last Friday in the month among other local acts.
He sends a special Thank You to his National Bank family, who helped “mould me into the young man I am today: Dorris Scatliffe, Curtis Mendez, Alex Potter, Mrs. Hoyte, Marthan Penn, Ivor Dawson, Deborah Wheatley, Marvin Williams and so much more.”
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