Courtesy: Overtime Media.Photos courtesy Solid Agency
Yaksta isn’t holding back.
With his new single “Roar”, the Jamaican artiste steps beyond the usual music conversation and dives straight into something deeper – truth, identity and how we’re living as a people. “We’re tired of the foolishness,” he says. “Tired of the agendas… tired of the degrading of women… tired of the racial war.”For Yaksta (born Kemaul Martin and hailing from St. Mary, Jamaica) “Roar” isn’t just a song, it’s a reaction. A response to what he sees happening in society, where people are chasing image over reality and losing themselves in the process. “People flex all they want, but most of us are lying to our own reality,” he says. “If you have to turn to something to feel alive… then you’re not really living.
”Yaksta is not just talking about this now — he’s been building a catalogue around these ideas for years. His breakout single, “Ambition” racked up over 20 million views on YouTube and even earned recognition from Rolling Stone, while songs like “Humans”, “Walk Inside My Shoes” and “Pon di Island” have consistently leaned into introspection, identity and social commentary. Known as the “Bush Lawd,” Yaksta also lives a life connected to farming: something he says keeps him grounded and directly influences both his mindset and his music.
However, the conversation doesn’t stop at Jamaica. Yaksta is also looking at the Caribbean as a whole, and asking a question that hits close to home: Are we losing our identity? “If you look at the Caribbean now, we’re all Americanized,” he says. “Trinidad mimic Jamaica, Jamaica mimic Trinidad, and we both mimic the States. ”Still, he’s not completely critical. In fact, he admits that social media has opened his eyes — especially when it comes to Carnival culture. After experiencing a Soca cruise, Yaksta says he gained a whole new appreciation for the genre and its energy.“I never gave Soca a chance before,” he admits. “But when I experienced it… it was all love.
No fight, no quarrel… just vibes. ”That moment shifted his perspective, showing him the power of Caribbean culture when it’s embraced authentically, not just copied and that’s really what his message comes back to: authenticity. “A lot of people don’t think for themselves,” he says. “I was like that at one point too… just following what I was taught.”Now, he’s choosing a different path — one rooted in truth, self-awareness and growth, even if it goes against the grain.
“A lot of people say fake it till you make it,” he adds. “But a lot of fakers never make it.”At the end of it all, Yaksta isn’t trying to tell people how to live, he’s encouraging them to think, choose and stand in their own truth. “The power is within,” he says. And while his words may spark debate, his final message is simple:“It’s time to unify… respect people’s choices. The world is big enough for all of that.”With “Roar”, Yaksta isn’t just releasing another track – he’s starting a conversation the Caribbean can’t ignore
