Tennesia Malcolm, Gleaner Writer
Suhverto - Photo by Tennesia Malcolm
NOT MANY persons may have heard about Suhverto, but if this singjay has his way, that will soon change.
As part of the JOP music fraternity, the artiste has lived in the shadow of his more recognised counterpart, Aidonia, whose praises he doesn't hesitate to sing. But with a new single called No Games, which has been getting reasonable airplay, Suhverto hopes he has found his ticket to stardom.
The song is a mixture of reggae and dancehall, according to the singer, and speaks to love and faithfulness, a departure from the genre's glorification of infidelity.
"The girls dem love to hear the truth so wi give dem words that they want to hear. Wi nuh inna di game ting," he said.
No games from Suhverto who is fast-tracking plans to shoot a video for the ballad, which was recorded on the First Birth rhythm by producers Eric 'Donrico' Dixon and Gary 'Gee Go' Chisholm.
Starting from childhood
It is just another stop on the road to success for this 25-year-old.
Like many others before him, Garfield Sheldon Neufville (his given name) began singing in school, entering local competitions in Westmoreland where his family settled when gun violence forced them from their home in Windward Road in east Kingston.
"A pure drive-by use to go on," he said.
At high school in Little London, he graced talent shows in Independence Park as Vice Kid. He would journey from Westmoreland during the holidays to visit family in Rockfort and it was during one of these sojourns that he met Aidonia, himself a budding toaster.
"He's the one that brought us up to the music; bring us up to the stage," Suhverto explains.
Waiting for nat'l recognition
He performed on Battle Thursdays at Princeville Plaza, a talent showcase put on by deejay Goofy, where many aspiring deejays got their 'bust'.
Since then, Suhverto has had steady experience performing on stage, but has never quite had national recognition. Hopefully, that day is coming soon. With a new team (LTL booking agency), which is headed by Alexx Frass and Conrad Smith, Suhverto is eying the big time.
Though music is his main interest, Suhverto has launched a clothing line called Rhydem Wear. Employing designer Raynor Russell, Rhydem Wear will feature jackets, T-shirts, pants and ladies' wear.
Suhverto hopes to concentrate his efforts on music production, bringing to the fore his own musical stylings. Until then, he is content with working toward his biggest goal to be a successful entertainer.
