I-OCTANE IN DEMAND AND MAKING MUSICAL STRIDES

Reggae's fastest rising cultural artiste, Byiome 'I-Octane' Muir, is poised to take his career to another level. The artiste boldly staked his claim on Dancehall Night at the recent Reggae Sumfest with a memorable performance and has consistently followed through since, entertaining his fans and silencing all detractors.

Quite in demand leading up to and during the Independence season, the reggae act -- who has been chosen by telecoms giant, Digicel, as one of the faces of the Next Generation -- performed at Eclipse Summer Invasion in Westmoreland, Mandela Park in St Andrew, Ocho Rios Seafood Festival, the annual Denbigh celebrations in Clarendon, the Independence show at Ken's Wildflower in Portmore and Manchester Fiesta in that parish.

It was at the recent Eclipse Summer Invasion in party capital, Negril, that I-Octane again set tongues wagging as he delivered what the audience agreed was a "big" performance. Coming on stage right after Aidonia, I-Octane went straight into a riveting set as he did songs such as Lose A Friend, My Life, Puff It, Mama and Take A Little Time. All these singles have been enjoying massive play on radio and in the dancehall, enabling fans of all ages to sing along with I-Octane word-for-word on many of his songs. As one 12-year-old female fan commented at the recent Stunt Festival at Police Officers Club in St Andrew, "I-Octane a mi boss ... mi know all him song dem."

I-Octane's popularity is undeniable and It has now become the norm for him to be heralded on stage by contagious shouts of approval, which, in many instances are sustained throughout his delivery."When the emcee mention I-Octane name, even the leaves on the trees rail fi him," is how singer Stevie Face once summed it up.
Quite happy at the movement of his career, I-Octane, whose ready smile is part of his charm, noted that he is just doing what he does best, "making good music and entertaining fans".

And entertaining fans is exactly what he did when he performed on General Degree's Manchester Fiesta on August 7. Taking the stage after many of reggae/dancehall's big names, I-Octane, who was called up by Konshens, was in a no-nonsense mood.
"Nuff man come up here looking forward," he declared, "but I bet I can sing one song and get all five forwards," he challenged the hyped up crowd.
I-Octane then the unleashed the song Puff It, whose lyrics contain the word "forward" several times. The crowd loved it.

With the busy Independence season behind him, I-Octane is looking to spread his wings and land on the international circuit in what is anticipated to be a hectic Christmas season.