Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

David Slew - Contributed

Only three times in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Popular Song Contest history has one songwriter won back-to-back titles.

The last time was only three years ago, when Stavan Whyte wrote the winning songs for Stefan Penicillin in 2003 and 2004. Should it happen this year again, David Slew would be the winner of this year's competition. Slew has teamed with Mario Lawrence, CEO of Music Factory, who wrote Remember The Days for last year's winner, Omar Reid. But Slew said if he wins, it will not necessarily be because of who wrote the song but the song itself.

Good song

"At the end of the day, we know we have a good song. We had a few to choose from and we chose Jamaican Woman," Slew said. "It is my tribute to Jamaican women. When you look at the garrison areas, the women face a lot of pressure and when you have some positive coming out of that, we want to highlight that."

Slew started performing as an opening act at stage shows in his community, going by the name of Dave Killer. His first real and most memorable performance came in grade five of Mico Practising All-Age School in a production.

Slew's musical influences, after a while, shifted to more cultural and religious genres and he became interested in Sizzla's lyrics. His first professional recording was Ghetto Youths Upliftment, which was produced by Franz Davis. Slew worked with Davis for a while and then he was introduced to Lawrence. Since working with Music Factory, David has completed a number of tracks, including Kingston ShLife and Friday Night, along with Omar Reid.

Slew is the youngest contestant in this year's competition, which affords him to enjoy, as he described it, the "little brother feeling" and a "level of comfort, though it is a competition".

Less hype

But Slew claimed this is not his only advantage. "I think it's the discipline I have in everything. I am less about the hype," he said.

Now a second-year student at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, he said singing has always been a part of what he wants to do. Winning is on everybody's list, but his desires go beyond that.

"I was thinking that even if I don't win I want the song to touch somebody, and at least one person would be motivated," Slew said.