Despite losing his newborn son on the same day he was set to make his debut on Reggae Sumfest, breakout dancehall artiste Nhance still performed and did so quite impressively. "I had to make up my mind to see the glass half-empty and half-full and just follow through," Nhance reflected, with a decibel of determination in his voice. "Going to Sumfest, I see it as a major opportunity, and when I got the call I can't even explain how mi did feel, but mi just look and see it as a loss and a gain in life.
" The 22-year-old entertainer, who managed to captivate the crowd with an electrifying performance, was anticipating fatherhood, but shared that his son passed a few days after birth. Nhance, whose real name is Kenneil Lawrence, has been making his mark in the dancehall scene for a little more than a year. He spoke passionately about the support from his fans and the motivation they provided.
"I just went [feeling] motivated to represent the people who support me, because a them make mi deh where mi deh now. Seeing how much people support and push me, help put me in the 'mind space' to do what I need to do." Instead of succumbing to grief, Nhance drew strength from those who believe in him.
"Mi have people out there weh believe in a me and mi need to prove them right, make them feel good say them believe in me, so I just had to show up." Nhance revealed that fellow artiste Teejay, who brought him onstage at the Catherine Hall complex in Montego Bay on Friday night, encouraged him to push forward despite his loss. "A Teejay himself call me and tell me say mi fi still push out same way.
He was there when the youth was born. A not even me tell him say him pass, but he knew and tell me fi still forward," Nhance said. Grateful for the opportunity to perform at Reggae Sumfest, Nhance delivered a stellar performance on Night One, sharing the stage with dancehall's current sensations.
He thrilled the audience with his popular songs, Mindset , Time and God , and Monster . "Overall, mi feel grateful seh mi perform for such a big show and on a reggae stage at that ..
. something nuff artistes want the opportunity to do," Nhance expressed, his voice resonating with gratitude. Nhance is optimistic about his future in music.
"Just look forward to Nhance going forward ...
yah man. There will be a lot of new music dropping soon, that is a must.".
