14-year-old reggae star lands another Juno

Toronto’s Kairo McLean is the youngest artist to win a Juno in the reggae category. Just last year he picked up his first piece of hardware for the song “Easy Now.”

“It always feels good to see your parents proud of what you do and it feels good ’cause I feel like I made the right choice,” says Kairo. “I didn’t think I was gonna be here eight years later, but I guess I am and we’re just going along for the ride.”

Kairo started playing music when he was a toddler and performed his first show at the age of six. He now plays multiple instruments including the guitar and says he’s been influenced by his dad, who is also an artist, and other reggae stars.

“I love Bob Marley of course – everybody loves Bob Marley – Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott and I also listen to Ray Charles, James Brown,” says Kairo.

“Kairo is pretty much dedicated to the music without being pushed into it,” says Garvin McLean, Kairo’s father. “I never really have to tell him to practice, he probably practices more than I do.”

“He found his purpose and you can feel it. I for the first time was on stage with Cairo and I could feel the energy. So it’s almost surreal that he’s my child. At those moments I think we’re like everyone in awe of what’s happening,” adds his mother Gamlynne Ferdinand.

Now that the Junos have wrapped up, his plan is to get back in the recording studio and make more music.