Carterr hard at work.
At just 18 years old, fast-rising music producer Carterr has already racked up enviable achievements.
Not only has he collaborated with some of dancehall’s hottest young acts, but Carterr’s work has garnered international attention. His fresh approach to music recently earned him a partnership with global streaming platform SoundCloud.
Still, Carterr is quick to highlight that, despite all his accomplishments so far, he is in the music for the love it.
“I have been around music all my life, and I always had a keen ear. I was always curious about what was behind all the songs we hear, and it was that curiosity that really led me to explore music,” he told the
Jamaica Observer’s Splash.
Carterr, who earned his big break at the tender age of 15 when his beat was picked up by Valiant, saw his career take off like a rocket through the deejay’s mega-hit single Speed Off. He shared that the trajectory that track set for him has been a whirlwind journey he couldn’t have imagined for himself, at least not at this age.
“It’s a funny story, because at the time I was 15 years old and just building a lot of beats and sending them out there, posting them on YouTube and sending them to anybody who would listen really. Someone who was listening turned out to be a producer he [Valiant] knew. He gave the beat to Valiant and the artiste ended up recognising that I was always sending beats to him. They did further reaching out and we connected and started doing work,” he said. “That’s where I really started getting mixed into the music field, and with that came work with Kraff, Bayka, Teejay, and more. Speed Off was really like my breakthrough in the industry. It blew up and a couple months down the line I ended up working with so many artistes.”
The now-producer said, the connections made forced him out of the shadows to establish himself as a true professional.
“For the most part I didn’t even expect all this, because when I make music my focus is not the glam or to gain popularity; I do it because it’s something I really enjoy… Being on the front lines was never my cup of tea because I am all about the work, but that experience shifted things… It was a turning point learning to put myself out there, because I couldn’t just get Speed Off and drop off.”
He explained that his work ethic kicked into a higher gear as he felt some pressure trying to live up to what had now become growing expectations of him. Luckily for him, he shared, he had the confidence to know that he was fulfilling his purpose and knew, therefore, failure was not an option.
Said Carterr: “I had to live up to things after that, and realise that when you get a big break like that, and so young, a lot is riding on it. Producers also go through the motions like artistes, where they drop a big song and there is a burden on them to keep that up. People see you put out a certain level of work and they’re expecting that from you every single time, so you have to live up to that.”
He admits there has been some pressure, but he has relied on his talent to keep him current.
“It’s an immense amount of pressure, but when you are confident in your craft it is nothing to worry about. After… Speed Off everyone was wondering what’s next, and mi ketch Mallie Donn’s Dungeon and it mash up TikTok! I did Bayka Siddung and it mash up the place! I also did Skippa’s Dark and the same thing happened,” told Splash.
Carterr expressed that his career was further propelled by the fact that he was working with young acts. He said that the partnership was mutually benefiting as artistes and producers were able to grow with each other.
“I was working with young acts who were making moves on the dancehall scene and that really helped to keep things going for me. I was helping to put them out there in the same way they were helping to put me out there,” he reasoned. “Working with these young acts definitely means a lot to me as a young producer, because we all come from a very small island, a small music space that has a very huge reach abroad, and it’s always a good feeling knowing I surround myself with like-minded persons. We’re all working towards a common goal and that is to spread the music as far as we can and entertain people for the love of it.”
But while he was just creating music purely from a place of passion, the world was taking notes. He realised when representatives from SoundCloud reached out to him to spearhead their Open Riddim Challenge, which will serve as a launchpad for emerging talent.
It will offer artistes worldwide the opportunity to showcase their skills and connect with a growing community of like-minded creatives.
“My team contacted me to let me know that they had SoundCloud looking over a list of current producers and [I was] at the top of their list; “They picked you!” It was just them paying attention to the scene. I didn’t even know my work was being looked at on the international scope like that,” he said. “But what that did show me was that I am where I need to be in this business. The fact that I am where I am and getting recognition at certain levels abroad, as a small Jamaican producer, I definitely see this as a call to the front line. Music is ready for me, the world is ready for me.”
According to his management, as the host producer, Carterr has released SCORPIO rhythm — a beat he composed, drawing inspiration from the structured, dark, bold, yet creative and vulnerable traits of his zodiac sign.
Carterr told Splash that so far the rhythm has had close to 2,000 plays with hundreds of downloads. The top 10 tracks will be selected by SoundCloud from which one person will be given the opportunity to do an official recording with the young producer.
The Open Riddim Challenge is open to all artistes.
The youngster said he is looking to achieve even more in the industry as he helps to launches new careers and new stars.
“It’s a good look so far, but we definitely want to push it even further…Not only is SoundCloud watching, but I am making my services available for someone needing that chance,” he said.
Carterr