The rising reggae star puts her spin on a dancehall classic to introduce her first album, Treasure Self Love
Since 2019, Lila Iké’s releases like the single “Where I’m Coming From,” EP The ExPerience, and feature on Samory I’s “Outside” have shown her talent and promise as an emerging reggae and dancehall star. Now, the Jamaican singer-songwriter is ready to step into the spotlight with her debut album, Treasure Self Love, due out August 22.
The announcement is accompanied by a new video for her latest single, “Romantic,” featuring another popular Jamaican upstart, dancehall star Masicka. Produced by Jamaica’s Dunw3ll and British-Ghanaian hitmaker Juls, the upbeat track channels dancehall royalty Patra’s 1994 classic “Romantic Call.” The icon herself blesses the song with a fiery, personalized intro and conclusion for Iké, too. “Big up Patra for coming on board as well, that was a full circle moment,” Iké said in a statement. “‘Romantic’ is my way of paying homage to dancehall and, of course, the queens who made space for us — women like Patra, who taught us how to be bold, sensual, and unapologetic. I wanted to tap into that energy, which is very me anyways.”
Iké has previously released the singles “He Loves Us Both” ft. H.E.R., “Fry Plantain” ft. Joey Bada$$ and “Too Late to Lie,” which will all be featured on Treasure Self Love. Last year, on “He Loves Us Both,” Iké told Rolling Stone, “I remember working on this song on my guitar and thinking it needs a feature with a really dope female artist as it reminded me of ‘The Boy Is Mine’ collaboration…The first time I played this song for [H.E.R.], she immediately got in the booth and so effortlessly made it into the masterpiece it is today.” In 2022, marking the 60th anniversary of Jamaican independence, Rolling Stone recognized Iké’s “Where I’m Coming From” as one of the songs that represent the country’s musical evolution.
