TAKEAWAYS

• Sama Sojah identifies hunger and anger as major pressures facing musicians.

• He says hunger can mean money, food or the desire for hit songs.

• If forced to choose between reggae and dancehall, Sama Sojah says he would pick reggae.

Reggae dancer, singer and songwriter Sama Sojah has opened up about what he believes is one of the biggest problems affecting musicians — hunger and anger.

Speaking about the pressures artists face in the music industry, Sama Sojah said he would not necessarily speak for every musician, but from his own experience, hunger can take different forms and eventually trigger anger.

According to the singer, artists can experience hunger for money, food or even hit songs, with each type capable of putting pressure on their careers.

“Hunger can be for money, hunger for food, and hunger for a hit song.”

Sama Sojah explained that when these different forms of hunger continue to build without being satisfied, they can eventually turn into anger, causing artists to lose control and make decisions that negatively affect their careers.

“When the hunger is quenched, the anger can also be controlled.”

The singer believes this cycle has contributed to some musicians losing their grip on their careers, especially when financial struggles, personal expectations and the pressure to remain relevant begin piling up.

Meanwhile, Sama Sojah was also asked to choose between reggae and dancehall if he were forced to identify with only one genre.

The singer said that if he were put “on gunpoint” and forced to choose, he would go with reggae. However, he stressed that the two genres are closely connected and often move together, making it difficult to completely separate them.

For Sama Sojah, reggae remains his choice, but his musical identity continues to draw from both genres.