How to Become a Successful International Dancehall Artist in 2022

Dancehall and reggae are the two most popular music genres in Jamaica, and they are also extremely popular worldwide. Becoming recognized worldwide when you do dancehall is still a challenge, however. While people love the genre, it seems that only a handful of artists end up being successful globally. 

This doesn’t mean that you can’t do the same thing, however. You will need to learn from the things popular artists have done and avoid some of the mistakes that blocked popular local artists from reaching mainstream popularity. Here’s what you’ll need to do if you want to become a successful international dancehall artist in 2022.

Build a Solid Local Base

The first thing you will have to do is build a solid local base. You first need to have a good product and work on your live performance. Live performances are extremely important in all genres of music, but especially when it comes to dancehall. This means that you will need to spend a lot of time on rehearsal and refining your act.

Build a Base Abroad

Next, you will need to establish yourself in another market. Most dancehall and reggae artists target the UK or the US as their secondary market. The UK is a smaller market, but it’s much less saturated and the fans are very devoted there. The US, on the other hand, has a much bigger population and multiple West Indian communities spread out around the country. Places like Miami and New York are both great markets for dancehall artists and getting recognition there will help spread your brand.

Tell Your Story

People also want to know where artists come from, and most popular dancehall artists have powerful stories to share. You need to tell them and possibly show them where you came from. Introduce them to your family. Try to take them where you grew up and tell them about some of the things you had to go through to get where you are today. 

Do not make it exploitative, however, and don’t try to embellish things. Just give them a closer look into who you are. This is what will allow you to start building a connection with your audience and gain traction on social media. 

Network Heavily

You’ll also need to work heavily on networking. Networking with other artists and people in the industry will open doors to you and introduce your act to a receptive group of people. They will then be able to spread the word about you and boost your popularity.

Here, we would suggest that you join a community like Soundful. This is a platform that encourages artists to communicate and exchange ideas while sharing their music. You’ll get the chance to connect with people like artists, producers, and other professionals in the industry that could help you take your career to the next level.

If you want to become a successful dancehall reggae artist, you have to be ready to put the work in. If you follow these few tips and always work on perfecting your craft, there’s a strong chance that you’ll get discovered.