Tosh Alexander’s clothing line was inspired by travesties happening with black youth across the world, particularly in the US where she grew up.
The Jamaican singer is known for her breakthrough feature on the hit Twerk It by Busta Rhymes and Nicki Minaj, which was produced by Pharell. The song currently has over 68 million YouTube streams and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard bubbling Under R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
Welcome Tosh
Thank you for having me.
How did you get into music?
I had parents who were fully encouraging of my brothers and I pursuing music.
Having parents that bought a Karaoke mic and stuff from we were 6 /7. There was a level of comfort I developed with performance and singing. Years after that I went to school with this young guy that heard me singing one day and he said my father is part of a group called the Commodores and he has a girl group and I think you should be part of it. From then that’s where I started my official journey in music.
What was your first song?
My first song recorded and released was Tired, produced by Super Hype on Smash Riddim called Tyad a Yuh Bullshit.
What year was that?
I don’t remember the year Smash Riddim came out.
How long was it between you getting your first song and getting your first hit song?
That was probably seven or eight years. The way that happened was so crazy because truthfully that wasn’t my first time working with Busta Or Pharrell. That was the third song I did with them but that was the one that was an official single and Busta shot a video for it.
What was that 7 year grind like?
The very peculiar thing about my journey is I was raised in both the states and Jamaica. There was this constant me trying to figure out my space. In the beginning learning to record the songs were R&B but my background is I am Jamaican. For a long time it was me trying to figure out my sound and the pocket. Twerk it was different from anything I have ever done but Pharrell convinced me.
The production of that song is part of what made it work, what was the process like to make that song?
I never went into the studio saying I was gonna scream explicits on a song. I was supposed to be singing but if you are in a studio with Busta you are going to be joking. Busta was like do this do that and I said no my parents can’t hear me do that. Busta was like wah you mean when you buss your parents not gonna care that you cuss bad words on a track. I went behind the booth and I just started screaming stuff. When I heard the finish precut I was like this is interesting and I was a little embarrassed. The truth is sometimes the art isn’t going to be appropriate. I want to thank Busta and Pharrell for breaking me into that space for being unapologetic with trying different sounds.
How would you define yourself as an artist now?
I found the balance. There is a lot of pressure from female artists in Jamaica and there is this obligation to bring forth the culture in the music. Truth is based on how I was raised, I think of Diana King and so many famous Jamaican singers in the past who needed to sing in patois. So a lot of my music now is in the R&B lane. I went back to that as my roots but now in this age where the dancehall world is palatable and the Afrobeat fusion I am a singer and I am from Jamaica and I do display the culture.
What kind of artist would you say you are if not dancehall?
I would say for the most part fusing R&B pop with dancehall elements. I am a Pop artist, I don’t want to box myself into dancehall and R&B. I am a Pop artist.
You have been in the game for quite a while, other young are girls coming up and doing their thing internationally, do you feel pressured to drop more songs?
That’s such a good question, I have never been asked that. I draw inspiration and I am encouraged by anyone whether older or younger. I could never do dancehall like Tifa or Spice, I admire the women in our community. When I see that it is women in Jamaica who are dominating this space I am extremely happy about that. We have the Koffee with a different type of flow, Shenseea with this deep bass and Jadakingdom, very slick , very witty. I am very confident in my space and my sound and when you are confident you don’t worry about who is coming or how is dropping next. No one is me.
Which label are you in partnership with?
I signed a deal with First Class Entertainment. It’s a partnership. I am their new act and I am looking forward to working with them. They definitely understand my direction. I have signed deals before and they only want me to do dancehall. I don’t want to be pigeonholed to make a certain sound.
I get the feeling that you enjoyed the success of (Twerk It), but you regret that being your first big hit?
I regret anything, I am so grateful for the opportunity but it taught me a lot. Make sure you have a follow up because when you don’t, you miss that moment. That’s why now I take my time and create a body of work, I take my time so just in case anything happens there is not just music within that realm but other quality music.
Where did your clothing line idea come from?
“Black Nuh Bomboclaat”, happened during the pandemic. When it comes to fashion and hair the whole glamor thing I have always been into. The catalyst for it was during the pandemic when music was at a standstill and we are within the atrocities taking place where men and women are being killed on TV. I was thinking of all the ways I could uplift us. I went to a protest and it did something to me. I have never had to own being black so I started doing a lot more reading. At the protest I took a picture and I put it online with #bigbomboclaatblackpower and my friend was like why not make a line of that. I came up with “Black Nuh Bomboclaat” and surprisingly it did extremely well. Now is the time to have really important conversations.
Everyone who identifies as black can be descriptive and bold with it.
Do you still have the same drive for music as you did when you just came in?
That is such a good question. I have learned this as an artist and as a creative this is with you for life. For a long time, there has been this pressure especially on women to peak in music. It makes a lot of women tap out early and become depressed. There was a time when I gave up on myself. What I have learned over the years is this is a journey of discovering self and the kind of music I want to create is very different. I am finally at a place emotionally, mentally spiritually where I am excited again.
Thanks Tosh
Full interview on World Music Views Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHIMhinf9k&t=7s
