Alessandro Boyd, STAR Writer

Lafenty - Contributed

Laphena Kary Thomas, known in the music industry as Lafenty, aims to leave her mark on the scene by pushing positivity and reality through her music.

Lafenty's first musical memories begin at childhood from basic school where she sang game songs. From there, she went to church where she led the Sunday morning praise and worship.

Lafenty's proudest performance took place at Yallahs Secondary School's yearly talent show where she placed first.

She is influenced by Madonna, Queen Ifrika and Tanya Stephens.

"They sing from the heart, are spiritually inclined and deep within the music, they inspire me and I just want to be better than them," Lafenty said.

With a musical range from reggae, dancehall to the pop sound, Lafenty plans to take her real life experiences into writing her music.

The singer and songwriter also co-produces and performs her music. These talents were tested in 2005 when she, in collaboration with Joe Gibbs studio, laid down her first track called Stress Me.

She has been performing much more lately, however, at places such as Eastfest, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's roadshows and at the Amnesia Nightclub in Ocho Rios.

Her next show will take place on July 28 in Albany Georgia. She has been struck by local stardom with the airplay her music has received on IRIE FM radio: East Coast Radio 7.80 and Hits 97 FM.

These tracks from her self titled mini-CD Lafenty include Modelling, All the Evil and Loving You Want. Modelling, she says, "Is simply about being yourself, in comparison to what others want you to be. It's about staying above the influence and away from peer pressure".

The message Lafenty is trying to send to her fans is that of being "real and optimistic in life".

"Some people act as if they don't have a brain for themselves, I try to influence them throughout the music and give them a positive view towards things," Lafenty said.