Askhelle's musical insight

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Despite being visually impaired, singer, songwriter and producer Askhelle has been making beats for many a popular song.

When The Sunday Gleaner sat down with him in his small Taylor Hall-room at the University of the West Indies, Mona, he was upbeat about his musical journey.

Askhelle, whose real name is Michael Fairman, said he had been involved in music from childhood.

In 1994, he started playing the keyboard, before he began getting his musical tutoring at Chris Murdock's Buss Out Studio.

"He was the person who helped me with the development of my skill as a musician, along with the late Steely (Wycliffe Johnson)," he said, as he sat around a table occupied by a computer and a small piano.

Later, he did work with Icon, who introduced him to Gussie Clarke. He started playing on his own in 2001, booking his studio time because he did not have all the necessary equipment. By 2005, this was no longer the case.

Worked with

Askhelle has worked with producers like Triton, Seanizzle, Ricky G, Vertex Records and TJ Records.

He said he created the beats for TJ Records' DNA, Word Of Prayer, Mood Swing and 'Alter Ego' rhythms; Vybz Kartel's Bad Reputation; Elephant Man's Kingston; Konshens' Hooked On You; Taz's Candle In The Wind; G Whizz's Tomorrow and several songs for Jodiann Pantry.

Despite his impairment, Askhelle says he has no problems making his beats on his three pianoes that were lined to a corner of his room, or on his computer.

"The only problem I have is like when I am supposed to get paid. Some people don't want to pay the full price for a beat. Probably half price dem waah pay. Some people now, you work for them and when yuh fi get pay, dem just nuh waan pay yuh. Dem mek all different excuses," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

This is something which he says happens very often. As a result, "sometimes mi just nuh ansa mi phone when dem a call or dem just nuh find me. Or mi just hold back pon mi beats dem," said Askhelle, who is also a final-year student at UWI, doing a liberal studies first degree.

But that is not his only challenge. He said a lot of people do not want him to get exposure.

"A lot of them just want to have me in a corner. They don't want people to know who Askhelle is because they know that they won't be able to get a beat. A lot of them try to intimidate you," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

He said some producers have also discouraged him from going into producing, as they claim there are no financial rewards to be gained from it.

But he was not deterred and is in the process of starting his own record label, called Vision House, with Dianne Stewart. Already he has a rhythm that he wants to put out by summer called Patience. This will feature artistes like Bugle, Chico, Nanko, Alkamist and himself.

Askhelle has already achieved much. Yet, he remains humble even when he hears songs he worked on being played.

"Mi nuh really feel excited 'cause I am not an excited person," he said with a smile. "Mi feel good inna myself but mi a nuh one a dem person deh weh a go hype or anything like that. I go through a lot of struggles to reach where I am at right now."

At this point, he recounted his experience of sleeping in a gym at the studio because he did not want to go back to St Elizabeth where he is from.

Askhelle has done the instrumentals for Jamaica House Live with Bruce Golding, The Teller, a documentary on CARICOM and a JIS programme. He has also sung on advertisements for Jamaican For Justice and Cremo Orange Juice.

Major rewards

However, he believes he is yet to reap major rewards from the music industry.

"I would say I pay my dues but I don't get it yet because Jamaica don't know who Askhelle is. A lot of rhythms out there, Jamaica don't know that Askhelle is the man behind them," he told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that he wanted to become a 'big producer' and earn a PhD in music.

More immediately, he said there would be new releases which he contributed to. Two rhythms for TJ Records, as well as singles for Mavado, I Octane and G-Whizz number among those.

Askhelle also worked on Go On for Omari's album that will be released in the summer.