By Michael Mondezie

Copyright trinidadexpress

Blu Lyon was born into music royalty.

The son of the soca icon Austin “Superblue” Lyons, Blu shares his father’s name—Austin Lyons Jr—his physical resemblance and natural pull toward music.

He spent his early years between New York, USA and Marabella T&T, growing up largely estranged from both his father and his famous musical siblings Fay Ann and Terri Lyons. Eventually, he settled with his mother in Queens, New York, where high school life and the city’s soundscape pushed him deeper into music production.

“My mother was trying to become stable while we were in Brooklyn, so my grandmother took me to Trinidad for a couple years and then I returned just in time for high school in Queens,” Blu recalled during an online exchange with the Kitcharee.

While their interactions were limited, Blu connects with this family through their shared love of music. He holds no grudges, instead accepting that circumstances shaped their distant relationships.

“The old man was not around much or at all, for a variety of reasons—music, drugs, my mother, etc,” he shared. “His influence on Blu Lyon music is mostly DNA.

“Fay-Ann, Terri and I did not grow up together. I met them for the first time when I was 14 and we did not have a close relationship because we were just living separate lives in different places. I remember Terri doing her best to stay in contact with me over the years.”

Finding his own lane

As a teenager in Queens, Blu began blending hip-hop and dancehall into a style that would become his trademark.

“It may have allowed me to be better understood by the casual dancehall listeners. I have been often told by people that they understand my songs more than other dancehall records. My accent is not as deep as others, and I can switch in and out of my accents fairly easy,” he mused. “There are also some ideas in hip hop that I put in my music that other dancehall artists do not use, because dancehall culture just does not allow those thought processes.”

That ability to bridge audiences paid off early. His first single, “Poor No More”, went viral in Europe. The achievement was both humbling and affirming.

“It showed me that there are levels to this—and a lot more levels that you might think. I did not receive much of the attention; the song got most of it. They know the song and did not care much about knowing me,” he said, chuckling. “I did not understand that it was my job to make them see and know me. The song on its own can only do so much. However, it was confirmation that I was actually good, and it was not all just in my mind. Knowing that people who don’t even speak your language can like and sing your song is a weird feeling. It is a good feeling—but it is weird.”

Years later, Blu would work with some of dancehall’s biggest names, including Jamaican stars Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer), Mad Cobra (Ewart Brown), and Dexta Daps (Louis Grandison Jr). The takeway, he says, was less about craft and more about strategy.

“Music is more psychological than most people think and there is a lot more politics involved in being successful than talent,” he noted.

Now, Blu is carving out a season of his own. His new single, “SUMMA HAAT”, is a deliberate attempt to plant a flag.

“I was just trying to get a song that can play every year on the radio like Mariah Carey,” he said through a smile. “She got Christmas, so I figured I could take summer. It is my favourite time of year. Plus, in the Caribbean it is always summer. Maybe it could get played all year round there. It should be on an album I am going to release next year.”

The track shares a riddim with Dexta Daps’ “Whine Pon Me,” which Blu also produced, a deliberate move to keep his name tied to established voices while building his own catalogue.

“I use the strategy of creating my records first and then identifying the ones that can be used as a riddim juggling or a feature for someone,” he explained. “I also plan a year in advance so know the songs I have for next year and which months they are going to be released. I have an idea of what and when I am shooting music videos for them. I like the idea of being prepared for opportunities, and not having to excessively hustle to take advantage of or keep them.”

Preparation was also behind his recent Big Vybz concert in New York, where he debuted material from his upcoming project.

“They didn’t want to book me, so I booked myself,” he said. “Most promoters actively don’t care about the up-and-coming artistes, but will run after them as soon as they get a buzz. The cycle is messed up. Sometimes you just have to move on your own, mix proven old-school tactics with new-school ideas, and make something happen.”

Blu has also stepped into acting, landing a role in the web series Sons of Kingston. For him, it is all storytelling.

“Storytelling in music is number one to me personally; but there are extra details that can be communicated via video that add value to the story being told,” he said. “When you watch my music videos, you will notice that I do my best to make them tell some type of story.”

Ultimately, Blu hopes to have an impact on culture that mirrors his father in the 90s, Fay-Ann in the 2000s and Terri today.

“We have a lot of misinformation, bad practices, beliefs and habits that we hold on to around the world and in the Caribbean. Perception is more valuable to people than perspective, and I believe it should be the other way around. So, upgrading peoples’ thought process and life experience with my music and life sounds good to me. Hopefully I can accomplish that while providing and having some fun,” he concluded.