Interview: Dancehall recording artist Marcy Chin discusses recent collab, overseas success, Sumfest return, and aspiration to work with Bayka
Marcy Chin, Renowned for her distinctive style
Marcy Chin exemplifies a dynamic artist, renowned for her distinctive style. Her ever-changing look and unique sound are both natural and intentional.
Currently promoting her latest release, "Dip," featuring dancehall newcomer Kaka Highflames, she is gearing up for a busy summer. "Kaka approached me about doing a collaboration. He expressed that he loves my musical style and wanted to work on something together. The chemistry has been mostly seamless," the songstress explained to Kaboom Magazine. The new single is already making its way onto dance floors with its captivating beat.
However, Marcy Chin, (whose given name Lonique Chin), isn't a new player in the dancehall landscape. She made a significant impact with the 2013 smash hit "Mek It Bunx Up" featuring DeeWunn, which has garnered almost 60 million streams on Spotify, while other singles like "Ride" and "Gimme More" are also making waves on the airwaves.
Discussing her unique style, Marcy Chin explained, "My musical style is hybrid. It’s a blend of original style dancehall with an array of other genres. As far as being an overall entertainer, I take a lot of pride in getting the crowd to participate during performances, ensuring they're actually enjoying themselves and going home with that memory etched in their minds for years to come," the female singjay expressed. "I always try to make sure they have a real experience. I aim to be renowned for the impression I leave on people as a complete artist".
Many were introduced to her dynamic stage presence during the virtual staging of Reggae Sumfest in 2020. This summer, she is set to return to the highly anticipated event. "I’m looking forward to it. I’m still in my planning stages, so there’s not much I can tell besides the fact I will be bringing an amazing, infectious energy. The rest is a surprise," she said.
She recently impressed audiences during the popular Marco Polo stage event in Atlanta, where she performed alongside fellow artists Spice and Skeng. "The reception from the Atlanta crowd exceeded expectations—not mine, but others'," she laughed. "Most people believe the Atlanta crowd is hard to please, so for a newbie like myself, a few people expected little to no reaction. When I managed to prove otherwise, it was clear that I had earned the respect of the DJs, the crowd, and my peers, including Spice and Skeng."
"As far as being an overall entertainer, I take a lot of pride in getting the crowd to participate during performances. I always try to make sure they have a real experience".
"Spice greeted me enthusiastically at the end of my performance and let me know that I did well. Skeng had greeted me upon entry and another time after my performance", Chin added. "I had noticed that he was paying attention, while I was on stage. It was a great social moment amongst us. Spice introduced me to some of her castmates on Love and Hip Hop and the vibe was genuine and beautiful".
Gaining popularity in the market, Marcy Chin has collaborated with rising stars such as Roze Don on "Sneaky Link" and Trini artist Yung Bredda on "Shake Shake Shake" over the past year. She understands that finding a hit in the digital age is not easy. "It only becomes challenging when you try to intentionally make a hit, as opposed to just making music and letting the chips fall where they may," she expressed. "An artist doesn’t determine what a hit song is—the audience does. So, we have to keep feeding them so the chances become greater."
"In this visual, short attention span era, an online presence is very important, and keeping consistent with that can be a bit challenging for a girl like me who often would rather be offline, working on my artistry," she echoed.
Marcy Chin, Making Her Mark in Dancehall (Photo: Cavaughn Edwards)
Emphasizing the importance of consistency in her development as an artist, Marcy Chin stated, "More consistency and getting better at maintaining balance with everything I need to do, and replenishing while increasing output. As far as future projects. Expect a lot more".
Featuring on Zimi Records' new "Walk Een" riddim with a single titled "Act Up," Marcy Chin mentioned dancehall producer Franc White as someone who impressed her. "I'm thoroughly impressed with Franc White because he's one of the few producers who makes the style of beats I'm interested in. I also have projects in the works with other producers. Bayka is someone I would really love to collaborate with; I find his work extraordinary," she said when discussing potential future collaborations.
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