From Theodoros Bafaloukos’ classic film Rockers (1978) to Steve McQueen’s more modern anthology input Lovers Rock (2020), the juicy tunes and charming lyrics of lovers rock – a particularly romantic reggae sub -genre – has been deteriorating and inspiring artists for decades. The Montreal rapper Skiifall (pronounced “Skyfall”) is the latest rising star being bitten by Lovers Rock Bug, but he is not entirely familiar with the style.
When he came from Barrouille in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Skiifall moved to Montreal, Canada, with his family as a child, and spent his high school wound in love with Atlanta Rap, moved away from Soca and Reggae, who sounded his childhood. After a few years of wear in local bands and honored his chops with partially government-financed study time, he released his breakthrough debut, “Ting Tun Up” in 2020. The song got massive hum in England, which led to a remix with knucks and increased eyeballs and ears at Skiifall. Although his sound was transformed into somewhat closer to hip-hop than Soca, Skiifall’s Sonic profile never gave up Woiiyoie Vol. 2 – Intense City Ep.
Montreal-based manufacturer and DJ Yama // Soto is billed as a co-lead artist on “Ting Tun Up” and that song started a professional relationship that would soon bring both parties into brand new creative spaces. The idea of making a lover of rock project started with “Yama sharing this playlist with me in 2022,” says Skiifall. “From there I went to Spotify and learned how to use the algorithm to find new music. When I found one I couldn’t stop there. It is now a 12-hour playlist, filled with lovers rock. ”
In his exploration of Lovers Rock, the music became more than background noise he used to disregard it as. He and Yama worked on a few early cuts, and “from the first session we knew we were going to make a whole project – but we didn’t know exactly what to do,” Skiifall remembers. In less than two weeks, the couple had three songs they worked on with Kenny Beats, a genre-agency producer whose love for live instrumentation made it easy to wade into the world of lovers rock. Their sessions culminated in the end Lovers till i’m gone: A windy, serious seven-song lovers rock set that explores stories of modern Vincy love and includes a guest performance of Grammy-nominated British R&B star Jorja Smith. The full set arrived on January 10, when the blacksmith-assisted “her world” collected over a million Spotify races in less than a month.
In an honest conversation with BillboardSkiifall talks about how his producers helped him find the coverage to reimagine lovers rock in the 2020s.
When did your family move to Montreal?
My mom moved away before I did; She made me come with her about two years after in 2009. I was about eight [years old] At that time.
I loved this movie called Monster House, And the only way I could imagine abroad was through this lens as a child. I thought that when I got to Canada it would be autumn all the time but when I arrived it fully snowed-like snow on your knee-type st [laughs]. I remember being held by flying waiting for my mother to come and pick me up. It felt like a movie, like a new start.
Did you grow up listening to a lot of vincy music?
When I was little, yes. Soca Music has always been a part of my life, reggae music. When I got older and went to high school it was the first time [I had my own phone] and was able to download music. I automatically gravity against rap; I started listening to much more American music from that age: Rich Homie Quan, Young Thug, Migos, Travis Scott, K Camp, 2 Chainz etc.
It is only in 2021 that I knocked back with reggae. I didn’t like it so much because I felt that everywhere we went, it got on. Parties, barbecue, everywhere – that’s all you hear. I wanted to hear some rap.
When did you start working as a skiifall?
Around 2018. But I really started making music like Shamar, at. 12 [years old]. I was a vocalist in a band and we held summer sessions together where we would write albums and perform in front of a bunch of people. We would [also] Have studio sessions that are offered you while at school. While I was in high school – from 12 to 18 – there was studios in Montreal that allowed you to record for free. You get free admission and free mixing and mastery, so I’ve been there for a long time. Most of my early music that came out was made there.
I’m super open to explore and see what I can pull off, whether it’s jazz or classic. I take bits and pieces and braid them all together. Before [Lovers Till I’m Gone]It was important to try something similar. Me and Yama made a few good songs and later showed them to Kenny. It spiraled into us like doing “Mystery Man” in our first session in 2022. From there we knew we should definitely continue to build it. In our first three sessions we made “Mystery Man”, “Sandy” and “No More.” I remember I was walking around LA at the time and blasting [“Mystery Man”].
I automatically knew what to do [in those sessions]But I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do justice to some of my favorites. Yama, Kenny, Venna and Nami [Ondas] Really gave me that boost – whether it’s lyrics or beat or just saying something that can inspire me. Without them I wouldn’t be able to make [this project] of myself.
What was it like working with Kenny Beats and bringing him into the reggae world?
I think it just came naturally. If you are a fan of music you are able to do what you want to do. If the right parts are there, the machine moves. Kenny’s aura is the perfect atmosphere; He makes you feel at home. If you are not inspired, he will not force it. He will leave it and try again the next day. I look forward to making more music [with him] Certainly.
Our leaders are friends, so that’s how we met. He is also a fan of my music. The first time we met was at his house in 2022, after he died on Instagram. It’s the day we made “Mystery Man.”
How did you get Jorja Smith on “her world?”
She has been a fan of me ever since I was blasting and I was always a fan of her too. Her name continued during the process of finding out who would be the best person to go with and build a great song. Fortunately, our leaders at the time were friends so she was down to work on the song. She got the song and she was pretty down, so I waited for her to send her verse back and the rest was history.
At first I didn’t like “her world” because I didn’t think it was sitting on the same level as “mystery man”, but Jorja brought it to that level. She gave it a different stream. She bodied it because I had never heard anyone do Lover’s Rock like that; She broke it right down and rebuilt it.
What are your plans for the visual world of Lovers till i’m gone?
I have this movie that should be kind of like Rockers (1978). I worked with it super close with my instructor Simon [Davis] And my father; We went back to Saint Vincent to shoot. It is about 17 minutes and is intended to show the country and the atmosphere that is going on there.
I remember I was talking to Kenny not to want to [recreate] 80s or how people looked back then. We would keep it [focused on] How it is at the moment – what people are going through right now and how they live and all that. It’s a bit like a documentary, but with music.
What should we know about the Montreal music scene right now?
I think you shouldn’t know anything because … yes.
Do you plan to stay in the lover’s rock space a little longer?
This project was recorded a long time ago, so I already have all the things I have been working on ready to go. I’m ready to be out on the road too. If this lifetime gives me the time I will definitely continue to make reggae. I love rap so reggae will be occasional. But when done, I have to make sure it’s done well because I feel like it hasn’t been treated well in some ways. If I personally want to attack it, I have to do it right by it.
Who are your top three favorite lover’s rock artists?
Billy Boyo, Dennis Brown and Johnny Osbourne. My favorites over the time are two very different people: Sister Nancy and Yellowman. Jah Cure is in there too.