Tanola Jackson, Star Writer

Colour World. - Rudolph Brown

Omar Markland, otherwise known as Colour World, says he is a lyrical artiste, who intends to bring a different vibe to dancehall.

Markland, who grew up in Crossroads, says that growing up, music was always his main career choice.

"Mi musical from birth, an' a di ting dat, mi is a youth weh ever a listen music from mi know myself, dat a 'bout the age a seven. From dem time mi know seh a music mi waah do," Colour World said.

It was not until 2001, however, while playing on a sound system that he decided to take on the challenge professionally.

"Di community mi live inna have a Japanese guesthouse weh the Japanese come and stay. Dem have a sound weh dem string up pon regular Friday and Saturday an' mi use to play pon di sound more time," he said.

He added, "Some of the time when mi a juggle, mi use to turn ova the record an' start deejay an' mi get fi realise seh more while di people dem an some of the Japanese inna di community a draw in and a listen to me. Plus mi live inna studio so a di opportunity dat fi mi do the thing, the real ting."

Markland says he admires and respects a lot of artistes in the musical industry, and hopes to one day get the chance to work with them.

"Mi look up to man like Bounty Killer. Dem man deh hardcore and stand up for what he believes in and is a good youth pon a next level. Super Cat who is a next icon in the business, Ninja Man and Shabba Ranks, a dem man deh set the way for we," he said.

Markland says to date his biggest show experience was working with LA Lewis on Sting in 2005. He has so far recorded numerous singles like Stick Pon Dem, Caught Up, Hot Girls, Stick Inna Har and Lick Inna Face.

Markland also says being a young artiste, he has been faced with a number of struggles, the main one being, "to get big producers to voice young artiste like myself, 'cause dem nuh feel seh wi faithful."

Markland's main intention is to continue pursuing music, as he says, "mi woulda love fi reach and past the level weh mi si all Shaggy and Sean Paul an' dem man deh tek it to, 'cause yuh done know dem open di way fi wi, so wi jus wah bring it on, an' pave a better way fi reggae music."