A feter’s hero

Borneo smiled, broadly. It was clear that this was a revamped man. A man who has a clear mission, musically and otherwise.

Last year’s “Different Me” established him as one of local music’s rising stars.

This year he intends to be its “Hero”. Borneo has released “Hero” which is also the title of the album, along with five other songs for the season –“Find Yuh Way”, “Go Go Dancer”, “Too Lit”, “True Fetter” and “Doh Blame It”.

Along with the six other songs, Borneo has created an EP (Extended Play) mix which includes his 2016 hit, “Different Me.” The EP contains 14 songs.

The jacket of the EP mix shows a Clark Kent/Superman-like Borneo with “Hero” emblazoned on his chest.

He said of the 2016 success experienced with “Different Me,” “It was something that I never expected. But the adrenaline was really high. I was thankful.” Borneo, 28, sat down with Newsday on Chacon Street to discuss his work.

He is celebrating five years in the music industry this year and the EP was done to build his catalogue as well as to a way of saying thanks to the many people who supported him through the years.

This, he said, was an important milestone for him. “Hero” came about while working with Jovan James (the writer of 2016’s “Different Me”). The song was released in early January.

“I was looking for a song that would describe the fifth year of music and he was like, _yow, hero’. We were looking for a name for the album and this becomes the name of the album.

It was the name of the album,” he said.

The album includes songs from Borneo’s five years in music.

For Borneo, “Hero” conveys the double meaning of not only being the hero of the party - going to every fete but also doing good throughout one’s life.

“Hero is not a singular thing. A woman could be a ‘Shero’ too. She could be going non-stop as well. It have women who go non-stop for the season as well,” he said.

“Together we all heroes because of the crime and all of those things going on,” Borneo added speaking to the song’s double meaning and what he hoped it would convey to audiences.

The song took him out of his musical comfort zone with an increased bpm (beats per minute) - at 132 bpm whereas his usual comfort is at 128 bpm.

While the song was being played on every medium, many were unaware that he was its singer, he added.

“Now with the song comes a character.” He first performed with the cape on January 25. It has now become a part of his live performances.

Borneo was pleased with his successes thus far, stating that his aim was to “create hits. For my songs to continue going. I have songs that you would want to play. As you hear it, it would take you back and as you go through the songs it takes you back.” He has very little expectation for Carnival 2017 or any other Carnival for that matter, what he wants most, “is to create music for people to enjoy and be happy.” In the future while he wants to have an international resonance to his music, he wants to ensure that his music roots remain grounded.

“I have matured on stage and I am hungry still to be the best on stage and in my performances,” Borneo said with a broad smile, animating his features.