“I wanna go trending,” Downsound Records artiste Marcy Chin tells The Gleaner regarding her new project, Gimmie More.
The ‘trending’ phenomena is criticised by some older artistes, who deem it a superficial measure of success, but Chin has her personal reasons for wanting to see big numbers for the colour-popping, dance-filled video directed by Dezignr Studios.
“No matter how anyone wants to spin it, numbers matter,” she stated. “People, especially labels, are looking for the numbers. They’re looking at how many people are looking at you. So, yes, the double-edged thing about it is, some artistes may get there and cannot transcend that, but that’s not the case for me, that’s not how I look at it. I just want to finally be seen, so I can show people what I have and who I am. So, if I’m not trending or being viewed by lots of people, millions of people, then where am I?”
‘Chin City’ followers would have noticed since late last year that she has taken on a new look and sound, except, Chin says, the cool, rap-flow sonic was always in the vault, held back because she was going along with the industry’s advice on how to make a name for herself.
“I enter a situation to learn, at first, from people who have made it to some extent,” she said. “I take the advice, I’m doing all types of familiar-sounding music and it’s not an issue because the thing about me, which is like a curse and a blessing, is that I am good at anything. So whatever sound it is, I can make it and it will be authentic…”
The cost of that, she continued, was her own identity, so she decided to take some time last year to restrategise her brand. Some things stayed, like her long-time producer Kunley Da Kulprit, who is behind Gimmie More’s WD-40 rhythm, aptly titled based on the innovative squeaking sound of two metals rubbing together on the track, crying out for WD-40. Chin has been working with Kunkley since 2012 after being introduced by artiste Natalie Storm, and he’s an integral part of championing her freed sound, producing Street Fighter, Jingle Bell Rocc and Buzz over the past few months.
SEE THE VISION
“I’ll say this is what I wanna do, and he’ll just see the vision, too, and know exactly how to mix it,” Chin said. “If you listen, it’s a similar chemistry between Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and that’s literally what we have going. The way he makes beats, sometimes he uses his own voice, similarly to Tim… I found a producer who understands me and meets me there and is ready to try something exciting.”
Chin is also working social media platforms like TikTok, where the song first blew up. A partnership with Sher Luxury Doll’s hair salon also saw a vibrant competition, with women singing along to the fun lyrics encouraging them to flaunt their glory and not settle for less.
“I didn’t set out to write a song like that, it was just a straight up vibe; it was just flowing out of me and all of my personality. I guess the way I would typically talk to my friends or something, I just put it in there.”
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
