Staying relevant for a career-spanning 15 years takes persistence, consistency and the pure skill to be able to connect with your audience. One of Jamaica’s ever-present figures remains at the top of his game, as Protoje prepares to embark into the unknown, taking up a new venture as he looks to the future after music.
Whilst Protoje has mastered the arts of creating music, he remains humble in admitting there’s always room to learn more and wants to perfect a new craft. He now arrives into the filming industry, co-directing the eagerly anticipated short film The Jamaican Situation. It’s a new experience for the St. Elizabeth native and one he wants to consistently work on as he adds to his extensive portfolio.
With Side A for the soundtrack of the pending film being released, we caught up with Protoje to speak on his new venture, working alongside SAMO, learning new processes, career highlights and much more.
The Jamaican Situation arrives in 2025, what can you tell us about the upcoming film?
“It’s a film about why Jamaica is where it is. It dives into politics, jail politics, the people that have to move away from Jamaica and when thinking about coming back, wondering if it’s a place to raise their family. It’s just really exploring all the things that go into Jamaica life. It connects directly with my music where there’s lyrics from my songs which are in the dialogue of the film.”
Do you make a feature in the film?
“I have a little small cameo, nothing too big! Just keeping it simple and focusing more on the writing and directing.”
How did you find directing alongside SAMO and overall, how do you find directing compared to creating music?
“I’m taking it very slow. I’ve been like an assistant to him and just learning. None of us have worked on a film before. We share a love for film and along with Fernando who is his cinematography, so we’re just really spending a lot of time thinking about concepts and ideas. I just want to take my time and be a part of the process.”
Do you think directing is something you’ll consider in the future?
“100% When we get through it, we’ll see! Film is a love of mine, sometimes even more than music. I spend my free time watching film all the time. If I get a 10-minute break backstage, I find my iPad and try to learn something. I’m really into it and glad I get this chance to express myself this way.”
Is this going to be a short-length film?
“It’s going to be 20-25 minutes. We’re doing it almost like a pilot. It could turn into a series, it could turn into a feature, but we’re just starting as an episode, a standalone episode.”
Side A of The Jamaican Situation soundtrack has been released, what can listeners expect from this first chapter?
“The introduction talks about the history of Jamaica, what happened in the 70’s and 80’s that led to a lot of economic fallout. 30 Million is speaking about the scamming that is happening in Jamaica and ends with what happened with the financial sector and where Usain Bolt lost 12 million because of financial fraud. Where we come from, were talking about the mentality of the people and how people think in Jamaica.”
You’ve spoke previously on the single Barrel Bun and nobody being untouchable where you’re from, is this one the themes that will be touched on in the film?
“There is a song on there called Mariposa, which is me and a girl hanging around and talking about driving around at night. Driving around at night is something I do a lot at night just to think and to listen to music. In the song it says “Windows down, no never, mi no roll so, because the city weh we grow, yeah it keep yuh pon toes too,” which is eluding to the fact you can have the nicest night but you have to be aware that you can’t even be stopping at lights or having your windows down because in Jamaica, a beautiful night can change just like that because of how the streets are.”
Do you find the process different when writing for a soundtrack opposed to writing for a personal project?
“I think I find it a bit different because maybe I wouldn’t write a song like 80’s Wild or Barrel Bun right now. I’m writing my album right now and exploring different ideas. Maybe I wouldn’t zone in on just Jamaica if I wasn’t writing a soundtrack for a movie. It gives me a chance to do maybe not exactly what I want to sing about right now or how I want to express myself, but as a writer for the film it gives me a way to be writing because dialogue needs to be creative. I’m stepping outside myself as an individual.”
You’ve collaborated with a host of artists from Alicia Keys, Popcaan, Koffee, Jorja Smith. Who would you say you’ve had the best experience of being in the studio with?
“My favourite song in my catalogue is Like Royalty featuring Popcaan. He came to my studio up Irish Town and he say’s Pull up in Irish Town, Benz inna garage, he’s very brilliant the way he records and is melodies and ideas. He really took that sound to another level. Obviously my collabs with Chronixx are all crazy! In the studio, he’s a genius [with] the way he works. Lastly, me and Lila Iké it’s always fun, like one big party!”
You just spoke about Irish Town, we saw your Tiny Desk performance during lockdown. Being an artist, how did you find this period? Was it a hindrance to your work or did you enjoy having more time to yourself to work on music?
“It was good and bad. It was a hindrance because it stopped me performing which is my favourite thing to do. In terms of creating, I had just got my studio in the mountains of Habitat in Irish Town. Lockdown in a studio for a year and a half, bro, it was crazy! I’m still releasing sounds that I wrote back then so it’s very graceful.”
You’re not just an artist, you also produce. Do you prefer to be in the booth or behind the buttons and putting a song together?
“It depends! I’m getting much more comfortable just being a producer, maybe that’s my career after I stop putting in the work for music. I still love just being an artist. For my next album, I’m not trying to do as much production, I just want to be an artist and write songs and sing songs and let my producers work better than I am.”
When can we expect the new album?
“I’m dropping my album next year. I’m working on the film and working on the album. I wanted to do it this year. I’m trying to finish this project by the end of year so I can have next year to focus on the film and just be releasing.”
You’re a 2x Grammy nominated artist, is this a pinnacle as an artist to see your work recognised for such a prestigious award?
“It’s not even top 10 of things I put in what I want to achieve! Those things are subjective. Two of my biggest albums didn’t get nominated. Ancient Future and In Search of Lost Time, those are by far my two most successful albums, and they didn’t get nominated. A Matter of Time and Third Time’s The Charm did not have the impact on those two albums got nominated. What do I prefer? The impact of what Ancient Future and In Search of Lost Time, when I think about the impact these have had, it means more to me than getting nominated. I appreciate it and I got to take my mum, girl and my daughter on the red carpet. It was a joy to be in L.A with my whole family and the Grammy’s does bring that. You know what the Grammy’s does? It makes your aunts and uncles think that you’re actually achieving something. I’ll be touring the world, playing the biggest shows all over but it’s not until I got Grammy nominated, they were like You’re doing so good, we’re so proud! It gives reference to them so it’s fun. I appreciate it and there is some honour in it, but it’s not something I thought I need to aspire to get a Grammy.”
What would you say has been your biggest achievement so far in music?
“My biggest achievement has just been to still be here and still be relevant after 15 years of putting out music. My first song is 2009 and here I am in 2024, coming off a successful year. breaking new grounds, it’s one of my biggest accomplishments. Just being able to be consistent every year since 2009. Giving people new vibes and new energy. A new way to put my music out. Having a label and bringing out successful artists as well. Those are the things that resonate.”
What has been the best advice given to yourself in your music career?
“Well not given to me directly, but I’m a huge fan of Kobe Bryant. About two weeks left into his career, Lakers weren’t going to go to the Playoffs, so he was going to end on a regular season game. He was in practice, really ironing out some stuff and someone said Kobe, you have six games left, why are you being so mental about doing this? He said I just learned something new, and I have two weeks left to still work on my craft. That resonated with me where you should always stay working on the craft, always try to figure something out about your music, about how something sounds, what you can do with your vocals, how this beat can translate, how your lyrics can come across. For me, it’s stay working on the craft, every day I get up, I’m a student of what I’m doing. Every night I perform, even its 50 people or 5,000 people, every night I perform, it’s an opportunity fort me to learn something about my live performance and my set and my voice. That’s what I stay doing everyday and that’s why I like to think my stuff keeps getting better and I keep learning and progressing same way.”
You know how to spot talent, who are three musicians we should look out for?
“Obviously Lila Iké. Her debut album is coming early next year and I’m super excited for that. She’s one of the most brilliant artists out of Jamaica. Mortimer, I think he’s amazing and he’s just released an album called From Within. I think he’s just next level. His music is next level. There’s also a new artist called Jah Lil who just released an album called Can a Man Cry. I really enjoy listening to that project. Those are three really good artists right now from Jamaica.”
Finally, what advice do you have for those just starting music and trying to break through into the scene?
“For a young artist coming up, if you focus on the craft first, the buss – as Jamaican artists would call it – will come later. Nothing is owed to you either. No one owes you to listen to your music or pay attention to what you’re doing. Get rid of the entitlement to think you’re talented and you should be heard. The amount of talent that exists, you’re not special to be talented! Keep working and if the world aligns right with you, the timing is right and everything comes your way and it happens, then it happens. Don’t take it for granted the work that you have to put in.”
The Jamaican Situation (Side A) is out now and available on all digital streaming platforms.