Koffee: "I do not only get to enjoy a musical career, but am also in a position to support an entire movement!"

Koffee, as for so many Jamaicans, your got your first taste of singing, of using your voice in church. Now I know the island is known for having the most churches per square mile in the world, but still I was kind of expecting a shift in the younger generation. Is there simply no escaping church in Jamaica? Koffee: "Especially as children, even if your own parents aren't necessarily church goers as such, you'll still be sent off to church every week with a family member or a family friend. So, yes, church is definitely strongly embedded in Jamaican cultural tradition."

Gospel is one thing, but what kind of music did you grow up on at home? Koffee: "Apart from gospel music, mostly old school reggae and rhythm & blues that my mom used to play around the house. Growing up with my peers I was also exposed to more mainstream music like r&b, hip-hop and so on."

One of your big idols in music was and probably still is Protoje. From all Jamaican artists to choose from, what set him apart? Koffee: "For me he immediately stood out from the pack because of his exceptional lyricism. The way he delivers his lyrics and puts his mind to his work so it not only makes sense but rhymes and vibes as well makes it incredibly catchy and inspiring. If you listen to his songs you'll find meaning within meaning, message within message and that's something I aspire to as well."

Just recently though, you collaborated with Chronixx on a reggae version of 'I Don't Care', originally done by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. Who came up with that idea? Koffee: "(laughs) It was actually Ed Sheeran himself who came up with the idea! I'm really pleased with the result, so I have to give many many thanks to Ed for giving me the opportunity and the fact it was a joined project with Chronixx made it even better, because he's also from Spanish Town where I grew up so we're almost like neighbors."

Apart from reggae artists like Protoje and Chronixx, you've also mentioned hip-hop artists like Smino and Giggs as having had a great impact on your music. Koffee: "Yeah, Smino is an American r&b and hip-hop artist from Saint Louis, Missouri. His sound is soulful but he also raps and he's a fast pace deliverer of spitfire lyrics like the ones you can hear in my song 'Raggamuffin'. Giggs is a British rapper with a very potent and powerful personality. He's a very talented artist I greatly look up to for lyrical patterns and flows as well."  

I might have missed it, but haven't really have heard you do a love tune as yet, so would you describe yourself as being a conscious artist? Koffee: "I think I definitely fit that description, but that being said, I would like to liken myself to Bob Marley in the sense that he delivered his music in a conscious way but at the same time was able to mix in other influences, as to be able to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. As I keep on growing as an artist I will also continue to explore different directions and will definitely do a love song at one point."

Your career really kicked off when you put a video of an acoustic tribute to Usain Bolt called 'Legend' on YouTube. Can you quickly remind us of how that particular song came to be? Koffee: "I remember having a discussion about the people we consider to be National Heroes in Jamaica, and one thing they all have in common is that they are only recognized for being heroes or legends after they have passed away. No Usain Bolt is a person who's been a great role model for Jamaican youths and has helped put Jamaica on the map in a magnificent way. He's a very conscious person who's worked extremely hard to achieve the goals he'd set for himself, but at the same time has remained a very humble individual. I felt it would only be fitting that someone would honor him while he was still alive, so I grabbed my guitar and started working on the song to be able to show him some love and appreciation. He then saw my video, shared it and the rest is history… (laughs)"

You just mentioned your guitar, is that how most of your songs start out? Koffee: "To be honest, thus far 'Legend' is the only tune I've released that started out life by me grabbing my guitar. That being said, I've got a few unreleased songs that were created the same way. In any case my guitar is definitely very important to me in my writing process."

You were really catapulted into the limelight almost from one day to the next and since then there's been no slowing down. Have you never felt things were moving just a bit too fast? After all you're still only 19 years old. Koffee: "Not really… There's a Bible proverb stating: "God doesn't give us more than we can handle!" (Corinthians 10:13, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, red.), and I know I have to work hard and stay focused to keep up with everything that is going on, so I try to stay grounded so I can keep my footing in this whirlwind journey I'm on."

You signed with Sony/Columbia, a major record label. The combination of reggae music with teaming up with a major hasn't always worked out for Jamaican artists in the past though. How are you approaching things? Koffee: "First and foremost I just feel very grateful for the opportunity and up until know I've felt there was a great understanding between my team and the label; it's not just me depending on them or them depending on me, but a unified relationship that thus far has proved to be very productive. As long as both sides keep putting in the work, I think this can work out for me. For now I just give thanks for the journey I'm on."

You were born Mikayla Simpson, but with a stage name like Koffee have you already thought of branching out into the coffee business, producing your own blend or even brand? Koffee: "Boy, you're putting ideas in my head now! (laughs) I was already thinking of doing something with fashion and getting more involved in charity work, but that's actually not a bad idea at all! That being said, the fact I'm a coffee addict has been largely overstated… I just ordered a cup of coffee on a real hot day, someone started calling me Koffee because of it and the name stuck!"

Your debut EP 'Rapture' was released a few months ago. Compared to your first two singles, 'Burning' and 'Raggamuffin', you seemed to have explored different musical directions since. Koffee: "I definitely agree there. I guess it's the result of me listening to a lot of different kinds of music and wanting to explore it for myself instead of just sticking to pure reggae music."

One of my favorite tracks on the EP is 'Throne'. Can I describe that song as a feminist statement? Koffee: "It most definitely is a feminist statement! (laughs) I never intended to put down males or disrespect masculinity, but it's a representation of what womanhood entails for me and the song was created out of love and passion for us as a gender. I believe if we as women can put out love and fire together, we're able to change the world ending up as the "queens pon the throne"! (laughs)"

Throughout Jamaican music history there have always been female performers, but it feels that in recent years there's a female revolution sweeping the island.  Koffee: "I have been hearing that a lot… I can't really say I disagree and I'm very grateful to be able to be part of it. It means I do not only get to enjoy a musical career, but am also in a position to support an entire movement. The music industry in Jamaica has definitely been mostly male dominated for as long as anyone can remember, so it's very gratifying as a female artist to see all of these powerful women like Lila Iké, Jah9 or Sevana finally getting their dues!"