We also chatted with Hekaya about his journey with music, and the inspiration behind ‘Elevator Love’:

OJO: Congratulations on your new single! Take us to the very beginning- how did the song come about?

HEKAYA: I attended a session by advokit studios to record an AD for a client, and I remember kit Isreal playing a song called beginning by joeboy for me, saying it’s one of his favorite songs and coincidentally, Joeboy is one of my favorite artistes to vibes who’s music I religiously listen to. It was not the first time I heard the song, in fact, I already knew the words and was singing along with it. That day, however, I guess just being in a creative studio space, every aspect of the song spoke and stood out to me in a big way. After the session, when I got home, I remember pulling out my guitar and started playing around with different chord progressions and I did not stop until I was satisfied with a progression that suited what I was singing in my head. I remember recording it as a voice note and sending it to Kit and my producer, Mega Mick. I honestly felt like I had something good to work with, and sometimes that’s all you need, something you believe that’s good enough to start with, which is worth all your time and effort. Mega mick, a hard person to impress was on it from GO. He responded telling me that we have to do this song and probably the following week, we started working on it. That’s how it all began, that one moment when everything aligns, where energies mix and match.

OJO: Who is this song for?

HEKAYA: This song was written for persons who ever doubted their feelings or connection to someone who in turn was proving their worth and was hinting their desire of wanting more than just a friendship. Sometimes we look for something on the outside when the person you need is right in front of you doing the things you want in a partner all along.

OJO: What’s the best part of doing music for you? And what has been your most memorable moment on and off the stage thus far?

HEKAYA: Creating and coupling the right lyrics with the right music. For me, any song you write should be able to fit into any mood, any genre, and any musical style. So, I pay close attention and become very nit picky when it comes to that aspect of creating music and choosing the appropriate musical arrangement. The most memorable moment performing on stage was when I sang background vocals for JW and Blaze for their hit song Palance for soca monarch 2009. The background vocalist had no choice but to match up with the energy and vibes given off by JW and Blaze, the dancers and the band.. it was maddddddd…. The best memorable moment off stage was when I did background vocals for GBM nutron for soca monarch 2016. We were about to hit the stage, the unity, comradery, and positivity were UP and present in the team’s tent amongst all the supporting performers. Yo, the prayer given by GBM nutron was soo powerful that all nerves and anxiety left and I was ready to perform. That experience solidified my desire to become an artist.

OJO: The pandemic has undoubtedly changed the world- particularly entertainment. How are you powering through the season? What are the challenges?

HEKAYA: Life will always have challenges, that’s how I see it. Now, even though this pandemic brought forward some new and unscrupulous ones in some cases, I had to take each challenge one by one and deal with them with a mindset of success being the only outcome. I used the time to honestly work on my crafts, like playing guitar or arranging music for my parang band to training my vocals. I was able to develop each one of my crafts and talents. I even started venturing into carpentry, building a few things for some of my family members.

OJO: How has your involvement in parang music influenced your journey as a solo musician?

HEKAYA:Parang is so much more than what people think it is or associate it with. Being a Parrandero is exciting, but requires a lot of rehearsals. It’s not just you alone, it’s you amongst other persons blending vocals, instruments, energies, knowledge, and talent to get one sound and one image. That in itself is a learning experience which I believe prepared me to be a solo performer/musician. It was always my dream to be an artist, entertaining persons with music was always something wanted to do since I was young, so I was always literally studying performers such as Machel Montano, Kes the Band, Bunji, Bob Marley, Vybz Kartel, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and many more prolific performers. However, what I learned from performing on a parang stage, I could have only gotten it from being a parrandero. Watching Lara brothers and Alicia Jaggasar just to name a few, performing a song written in Spanish to an English speaking crowd and was still getting them to dance, jump and be the typical “trini inna fete” was second to none. I was always amazed by it and it taught me that delivery is equally as important as having a chart-topping song.

OJO:What’s next? Can fans expect an album?

HEKAYA: More music, an album yes in the not too far distant future, but more music. More understanding of who I am and my reasons for making music, showing that the music business is as equally important as becoming a doctor, lawyer, etc.

OJO: Plug yourself! Where can fans find your music?

HEKAYA: You can find me on all major social platforms. Instagram and Twitter: @hekayamusic Facebook and Youtube – Hekaya You can find my music on these digital platforms: apple music, Spotify.