At the upcoming Afro-Carib Festival in Miramar, Reggae phenom Koffee will be the headline act. The 22-year-old Grammy winner is looking forward to the annual festival where she’ll take the stage for the first time. “The festival is a natural match,” she explained. “My team and I are always on the lookout for festivals that push my music across the diaspora.”
Born Mikayla Victoria Simpson, Koffee – who is fresh from another Grammy nomination for her 2022 album, Gifted – has made waves over her short career as one of the leading voices in the neo-Reggae movement. She’s more than capable of holding her own on a track with the likes of fellow Reggae superstars Protoje, and her one-of-a-kind flow and voice make her a sought-after collaborator across multiple genres.
The critically acclaimed Gifted project is an intentional departure from her award-winning Rapture. The young artist’s repeated point of focus is catering to her audience. “Gifted is a more fun project. It’s a little more intimate,” she noted, explaining the contrast to the more aggressive and politically charged Rapture. She highlights singles ‘Run Away’ and ‘Lonely’ as stand-out tracks that could only exist on Gifted. That’s not to say the record is apolitical. On ‘Defend’ and ‘Shine’ she calls out the Jamaican government and pleads for an end to violence.
Koffee is gearing up for the Afro-Carib Festival as both a performer and a fan, eager to make her return to Miramar while also taking in the other acts. “Music is a service,” she emphasized. “It’s mainly about finding who can benefit the most from what you’re creating.”
