Edmonton’s Skystar nominated for Reggae Recording of the Year JUNO award
"[Alberta] is a very rough market for reggae. And then I got that breakthrough, [so] there's a possibility for that genre here. It's a great feeling," Skystar says.
SuppliedThe nominations for the 2025 JUNO awards were recently announced, with six Edmonton artists on the list.
Ainsworth Rose, professionally known as Skystar, is a reggae artist from Jamaica who has lived in Edmonton for 11 years. He left Jamaica due to financial reasons, and came to Edmonton where he found work at a Tim Hortons.
“[Tim Hortons is] the reason why I got to work here to make a better life for my kids.”
Skystar has been involved with the reggae genre his entire life.
“Reggae is the backbone of my culture [and] the backbone vibration when it comes to entertainment in my culture. So it’s gonna be embedded in me from the day I was born,” Skystar said.
At 15-years-old, Skystar’s first professional song was released on the radio. He attributed his involvement in reggae music to its constant presence throughout his life. Going to reggae parties with his mom, where she would go to sell her products as a vendor, was something he saw as a child and [soaked] up like a sponge.”
“It was just the lifestyle, seeing it, growing up with it.”
“Just to be nominated makes me feel like I’m already a star,” Skystar says
Skystar’s 2024 album, Sky’s The Limit, is nominated for Reggae Recording of the Year. In terms of being nominated, he explained how “it’s the best feeling ever.”
“In Alberta, you don’t have much reggae music floating around. It’s a very rough market for reggae. And then I got that breakthrough, [so] there’s a possibility for that genre here. It’s a great feeling.”
Skystar explained how he wants to use the nomination to “maximize [his] career [and] try to get more exposure.” Additionally, he mentioned using the nomination to “gain access to bigger platforms, more festivals … [and] tours.” However, Skystar detailed how the nomination itself is monumental.
“Just to be nominated makes me feel like I’m already a star.”
Sky’s The Limit took about a year to create and produce, according to Skystar. He worked with his management team to pull together his various singles, while also experimenting with new instrumentals.
They chose “Learnt” as the lead single for the album, which has garnered over 100,000 streams on Spotify. He also explained how the song is popular amongst “the reggae diaspora in Edmonton.” As of March 4, his song “Karma” is at number three on the Canadian reggae charts.
Skystar has another EP in the works, and he explains that because of Sky’s The Limit‘s nomination, “that means it’s got mileage.”
The JUNOs will take place on March 30 in Vancouver, and will be available to watch live on CBC and CBC Gem.
