Reggae artiste Venomus is generating a lot of attention in the reggae world with a pair of songs igniting FM radio with its feel-good spin on black consciousness and spirituality, as well as romantic relationships.
“The songs are doing well in the streets, and on radio, I am getting a lot of support from the disc jockeys and selectors from Jamaica to Europe. People can relate especially to ‘Rise Again’ and I am getting great feedback,” Venomus said.
Three years ago, Venomus vaulted into the spotlight with a cameo on the dancehall breakout hit ‘One Drop’ song alongside QQ. Fast forward to 2017 and he has revamped his image, emerging as a firebrand rastafarian with an exciting new sound. The single ‘Rise Again’ on the Sasaine Music label was released in April this year while ‘Complicated’ was released on the Dejavu Label in late March.
In the niche world of reggae music, he has pulled off a major marketing coup.
“It’s really important to rebrand one’s image because as artistes and human beings, we change over time. I was able to switch over from ‘One Drop’ years ago to reggae now because I have always been a spiritual person and I am a writer, so I want to inspire people, and by doing conscious music, this allows people to remember you and connect with your work,” Venomus said.
He will be shooting videos for the singles during this Summer starting with ‘Rise Again’ which is a clear favourite of disc jocks all over the world.
“I have just finished up a lot of dub plate sessions for some of the biggest stations over de world like Bbc1extra, Capital, Buzzfm. Rise Again is one of the hottest reggae songs in rotation in the UK,” the artiste whose real name is Ishmael Thompson, said.
He is currently working on his first album titled ‘Complicated’ slated to be released early next year.
Venomus grew up in the community of Waterhouse, Kingston 11 and was raised along with his siblings in a single parent home. His passion for music started at an early age as he played the drums in church. He lists Bob Marley and Sizzla Kalonji as his biggest musical influences.
