KRANIUM… I knew it was going to be my breakthrough single–

MORE than a year after its release, New York-based singjay Kranium is still enjoying success of his single Nobody Has To Know.

Produced by LMR Pro Records, the track was released last April.

The track gained momentum in America’s tri-state area and, as its popularity grew, it eventually crossed borders to become a party favourite in Jamaica.

Kranium, 23, said he was somewhat surprised at the pace the track took off with.

“I didn’t expect it to be this big, but I had a different feeling when I was writing it. I knew it was going to be my breakthrough single,” he told Splash, from his New York base.

Since releasing the single, Kranium said he has performed in several US locations, including Florida, Washington and Atlanta. He has also received gigs in St Kitts, Guyana and The Bahamas.

According to the Clarendon-born artiste, New York is the entertainment capital of the world and, when a track takes off there, it usually filters to other places.

“New York is the place where everyone visits. So when the visitors — including the disc jocks — come and hear the single ‘running’ the streets and the clubs, they too play it when they go home, and the word spreads,” he said.

While he remains active in the recording studios, Kranium said he was strategic in his releases.

“I could record a string of songs right behind the other, but I choose not to.

I am giving this song the time it deserves and I won’t use one song to kill another,” he stated.

He said flooding the market with singles sometimes affects the longevity of a song.

Kranium
Kranium

“The more songs you drop, is the more work you have to put in as you have to be everywhere. Sometimes when an artist is seen too often, the fans become bored. However, if this is done, the artist should be singing about different topics in order to keep people’s attention,” he said.

But how do you know when a single has run its course?

“There will be warning signals, and one will know as the interviews, rotations and tour dates will get fewer,” he said.

Kranium (real name Kemar Donaldson) was born in Clarendon but spent his formative years between Montego Bay in St James and Seaview Gardens in St Andrew.

At 13, he migrated to the Big Apple and attended Jamaica High School in Queens, New York.

His break came in 2008 with the release of his debut single This Morning.

His other releases include Swagga Buck, Got to Believe, Hear My Cry, Lifestyle, and Dem Bruk.

— By Simone Morgan

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