12.1.2023
Rising Dancehall Superstar Byron Messia Shares “La La” ft. Suarez, His Brand New Video and Single
Stream HERE | Watch HERE
The Rundown:
Byron Messia became one of 2023’s biggest international breakout stars on the back of “Talibans,” his smash hit Song Of The Summer candidate. The St. Kitts & Nevis native singer-songwriter keeps the momentum going with “La La,” a sterling example of Byron’s hybrid genre which he calls “dance-soul.” The emotional and propulsively melodic new single arrives alongside a music video that establishes Byron as a leader of a band of rebels in a post-apocalyptic landscape. “La La” is a single from Sad & Famous, Byron’s next album, coming in early 2024.
Check out some key facts about the vital young artist, and check below for the full press release.
- Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Byron Messia moved to St. Kitts & Nevis when he was very young. With “Talibans II,” he became the first artist from the small Caribbean nation to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100
- “Talibans” was a breakout hit, with over hundreds of millions of U.S. streams, on the original version and “Talibans II” ft. Burna Boy
- “Talibans” appears on No Love, Byron’s 2023 album, which debuted at #8 on Billboard’s and peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart. The album currently sits at #9 during its 24th week on the chart
- Byron has garnered critical acclaim, earning mention in Billboard, Clash, BET, The FADER, Pitchfork, and Complex, who listed “Talibans II” at #3 on its list of 2023 Songs of the Summer.
- “La La” arrives in the wake of follow-up hits like the single “Mad Dawgz,” included in The New York Times Playlist, the simmering anthem “90’z,” “Mercy,” his collaboration with Fridayy, and most recently, “Nightmares,” his hit collaboration with Chris Brown that has racked up over 10 million streams across platforms since its November 10th release.
Critical Praise:
“Song Of The Year Contender” – Complex
“Byron Messia’s breakout single, “Talibans,” is one of the year’s defining reggae songs, so saccharine you might miss its tough talk. Messia has a sweet voice that gets feistier the more clipped his singing becomes, and on his boastful new single “Mad Dawgs,” he comes almost all the way around to blustery, trading in much of his considered honeyed singing for a choppier rhythm more in key with the chest-puffing lyrics.” – The New York Times in “The Playlist
“Still riding high off the global success of his breakout summer hit ‘Talibans,’ Byron Messia keeps the momentum going with the new single ‘Mad Dawgs.'” – Billboard
“In 2023, it wasn’t a hip-hop song that lit up the months of June, July, and August – rather – it was Byron Messia’s Dancehall joint “Talibans.”” – BET
“It would be either brave or foolish to bet against Byron Messia’s star rising even higher in the near future.” – CLASH
The Video:
Blending elements of dancehall, R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeats into a hybrid genre he calls “dance-soul,” Byron Messia is on the path to global stardom. Coming through with his latest anthem, Byron shares “La La” ft. Suarez, demonstrating his talent for crafting muscular melodies into propulsive jams. Gliding over warm electric keyboards and a driving dancehall beat, the St. Kitts & Nevis native works rapidfire melodies, alternating flexes and taunts until words fail him in the “la la” chorus. Directed by Kza, the video posits Byron as humanity’s last hope, as he leads a band of rebels through a distressed cityscape and strikes back against an occupying force. Packed with striking images, the video is a call for freedom, Byron’s stirring melodies fomenting resistance and giving hope.
“La La” is the latest single on the road to Sad & Famous, Byron’s next album, and follows-up “Talibans,” Byron’s global smash. A smoothly sinister anthem perfectly suited to the summer air, “Talibans” struck a chord with the public, building momentum over the summer until it become a massive hit. The summer jam earned a spike when Byron shared “Talibans II,” blessed with an appearance from Burna Boy, propelling the song to the Billboard Hot 100. With that milestone, Byron Messia became the first artist from St. Kitts & Nevis to ever make an appearance on that prestigious chart. “Talibans” and “Talibans II” generated more than 200 million global streams across platforms and over 57 million YouTube views on the official music video alone. On radio, “Talibans II” peaked at #19 on Urban and #18 on Rhythmic.
“Talibans” jumpstarted Byron’s rise, helping him become the most-promising dancehall crossover star in years. Influential figures across the culture have taken notice of Byron’s rise. Burna Boy was merely the latest in a line of high-profile artists who co-signed Byron, including Drake, Lil Baby, Dave, Popcaan, Cardi B, Rod Wave, and Swizz Beatz, among many others. The 23-year-old rising star has garnered critical acclaim, earning mention in Billboard, Clash, BET, The FADER, Pitchfork, and Complex, who listed “Talibans II” at #3 on its list of 2023 Songs of the Summer.
“La La” keeps the momentum from “Talibans” going, following the wake of fan-favorite singles like “90’z,” the fiery “Mad Dawgz,” which earned coverage in The New York Times Playlist, and “Nightmares,” a hit collaboration with Chris Brown that racked up over 4.1 million YouTube views and 4.8 million Spotify streams in just three weeks.
With a genuine smash in his rearview and hundreds of millions of streams in the bank, Byron Messia is on the cusp of conquering the U.S. with his signature sound. Sit back and watch him rise.
“La La” is available on all platforms via Ztekk/Simple Stupid/Geffen Records
Follow Byron Messia – @ByronMessia on all social platforms.
Watch “La La” ft. Suarez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRKmoKn6OA
Stream “La La” ft. Suarez: https://byronmessia.lnk.to/LaLa
Credit: Nicholas Gregg
Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.
The Background:
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Byron relocated to St. Kitts, one of the two islands that makes up the tiny Caribbean nation St. Kitts & Nevis, when he was just a baby. He discovered his musical talent from an early age, learning to play piano in music class in school, eventually developing a talent for freestyling. Byron fell in love with dancehall as a teenager, looking up to artists like Masicka, but also taking inspiration from melodic rappers like Rod Wave and the laid-back vibes of Afrobeats. Though his music features some of dancehall’s signature braggadocio, Byron takes a more introspective approach, focusing on his pain and showcasing his singing voice, creating a hybrid style that the artist calls “dancesoul.” For the past few years, Byron’s been building a massive fanbase in the Caribbean and a developing one in the States, generating enough momentum to take his latest album No Love, released via Ztekk/Simple Stupid/Geffen Records, to #8 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Byron struck a worldwide chord with “Talibans,” and the Billboard Hot 100-charting “Talibans II” ft. Burna Boy, which became one of the biggest global dancehall hits
Links:
instagram | spotify | youtube | tiktok
“La La” ft. Suarez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRKmoKn6OA
“Mad Dawgs”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vte_dAbIo
Fridayy ft. Byron Messia – “Mercy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeCWQ4KDK_Q
“Talibans II” ft. Burna Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUGcGkPxP0
“Talibans”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5LxJdCiRk
“90’z.”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYim6NKgT3o