This Is Your Freestyle Blast #53

Every so often a new Freestyle artist attempts to build upon the rubble of our genre... and succeeds.

May 15, 2026

These last couple of issues, I’ve been pretty hard on the topic of The Blast Flash 3, a segment in each newsletter where three new Freestyle releases go head-to-head for seven days. Along with it comes a poll where our readers can vote for their favorite track. The winner stays on for the following issue to face off against two new challengers.

Though we may switch things up in the future, there are currently no cash prizes, awards, or incentives attached to it. What we do offer is the opportunity to be featured in our monthly Freestyle Blast Newsletter and our annual Yearbook, which is published in paperback format, and made available on Amazon.

But the most important thing we offer during that seven-day poll run is a challenge, not just to win, but to go the distance. The Flash 3 is designed to light a fire under artists. It pushes you not only to release new music, but to promote it relentlessly.

Too many Freestyle gems have been buried before fans ever had the chance to truly discover them.

There’s always talk about new releases not measuring up to the classics, but I don’t buy into that. Back in the day, record labels worked tirelessly to promote their music. They invested enormous amounts of time, energy, and money because they understood that songs didn’t just become hits on their own, they had to be pushed until they caught fire.

Back then, we spent hours waiting at radio stations just to get a few minutes with a program or music director, hoping to convince them to add our song into rotation. Many of those meetings ended with empty promises just to get us the hell out of their office, with no real intention of ever even playing them.

Labels bought radio spots to advertise songs. They paid for advertising space and custom displays in record stores, along with hosting “In-Store” appearances where artists would meet fans and sign purchased copies.

Artists and their teams showed up at festivals, radio station concerts, and promotional events, often for free, just to help push a new release.

In other words, we didn’t simply record a song and hope people would somehow find it, we did everything we could to make sure they did.

Nowadays, with social media, home studios, and even apps capable of producing entire songs, too many artists aren’t doing what’s necessary to properly promote their music, yet they still expect the same results artists achieved back in the day.

Freestyle certainly isn’t lacking new music. New releases are dropping weekly, and while that’s a beautiful thing, it means nothing for the genre if artists aren’t pushing their music with everything they’ve got.

I’m on a mission to get Freestyle artists and their teams to go harder than ever when it comes to promoting new material. Stop believing that if you simply create it, people will automatically come, because they won’t.

Some of the biggest names in Freestyle have released new music thinking that their past hits, massive followings, and premium performance fees guaranteed success for a new release.

Well, guess what? Most of those releases from our legends haven’t made any significant impact. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that some promoters are now including clauses in contracts specifically requesting that artists don’t perform new music, only the classic hits. And honestly, that’s sad.

This month’s issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter will feature just one article: an interview I conducted with Lanah Skye. Lanah has won the Flash 3 for eight consecutive months, and she doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

But how is that possible?

A brand-new artist. A new producer. New songs. Someone who only recently arrived on the scene, and then suddenly took it over.

Is her music simply that good? Is it because she and her team, or maybe I should say “teammate”, are grinding harder than everyone else? Or is it because the competition simply isn’t doing what it takes to keep up?

I don’t know.

But check out the interview below, and when you’re finished, share your thoughts in the comments.

And now, without further ado… let’s get into it!

After a few months, trying to get Lanah Skye to sit still just long enough for me to interview her, I finally got the opportunity, however, there was a bit of a catch to it…

Not many know about this, but Lanah’s artistic ability’s stretch beyond the microphone and onto the canvas. Yes, the unstoppable reigning champion of The Freestyle Blast Off, formerly known as The Freestyle Blast Flash 3 is also a talented painter, and she agreed to take the interview during one of her painting sessions, oh, and about that catch? Well, I had to paint too!

I love all the arts, and painting is definitely one of them, though my knowledge doesn’t go much further than knowing the difference between a Lisa Lisa and The Mona Lisa, and my talent, just North of a kindergartners finger paint, but I’m a trooper, and determined to get this interview done, so whatever I gotta do, I’m doing.

I was a little nervous stepping into what looked like a private room inside of Lanah’s beautiful home in Orlando, FL. But once inside, I was in awe of what I saw.

Paintings on different size canvases covered every wall, and in the middle of the room were two easels with their back’s to one another and about four feet in between them.

LANAH: “That’s yours,” Lanah gestured toward the other easel as she stood in front of hers and placed an apron over her head. Though hesitant, I followed, oblivious to what I was about to get into.

The canvases were already set on both easels, about 16 X 16 inches, plenty of room for me to make a mess, yet small enough for us to still be able to visually connect during our interview.

LATIF: “What am I painting?” I asked.

LANAH: “Whatever you want.” She replied as she began by first dipping her paintbrush into a jar of water.

It was obvious that she wasn’t trying to teach me anything as most of the basics were already setup before I even got there. It was like she was sitting me in the corner with crayons and a coloring book to keep me busy while she does some grown-up shit.

I noticed that two overhead lights lit up each of our canvases as the rest of the room began to dim, and a light lingering aroma of burning incense took over the room.

The soft scratch of Lanah’s brush against the canvas began to fill the room, broken only by the faint hum of music playing somewhere behind us, and it wasn’t Freestyle.

I stared at the blank space in front of me, then down at my palette that only had a few colors. Black, burgundy, and gold, totally limiting any predetermined ideas I might’ve had stepping to the canvas. Across from me, just over the top edge of our easels, Lanah glances back up, and with a smirk, she nodded and said, “Just start painting.”

A nervous laugh slipped out, as I glanced back down at the bright white monster in front of me, shrugged my shoulders, and picked up a brush. I was here for an interview and anxious to get started so as I began painting a simple black circle, I hit Lanah with the first question.

LATIF: Tell me a bit about younger Lanah growing up?

She didn’t react and so I wasn’t sure if she actually heard me, but before I could ask again, she jumped in…

LANAH: My parents are both from the Dominican Republic, but they came to the U.S. at a very young age. I have two brothers. I’m also a military brat, so before I turned 8, I lived in Louisiana, Kansas, and even Germany. I was born in Louisiana, but I’d say I was really raised between New York and New Jersey.

Later on, I joined the military myself and did a few years. After that, life took me in a different direction, and it’s been about 20 years until recently when I decided to come back to music.

As I closed the two ends of my circle I pull back for a better look, and all I could think was, blah! Lanah, meanwhile, moved with confidence, dab, blend, pause, I was already intrigued.

LATIF: Who were your musical inspirations growing up?

LANAH: I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I was that kid always listening to the radio and memorizing every song. I grew up listening to all kinds of music, and it was always around me. My family sings, plays instruments, it’s just something that’s always been part of my life.

Growing up, I listened to a lot of hip hop, R&B, and pop. I knew about freestyle from listening to KTU, and I remember artists like The Cover Girls, Taylor Dayne, and Lisa Lisa. But I didn’t really know as much about freestyle back then as I do now. Thinking back, however the first artist to truly inspire me, was none other than, the beautiful and talented, Selena.

Lanah swirls her brush around her cup of water, then proceeds with a new color. I attempted the same, already making a mess. Lanah noticed, shook her head.

LATIF: But why Freestyle? From all the styles of music you could’ve chosen, why this one?

LANAH: I really feel like Freestyle found me. Tony, referring to her husband, has strong ties to the Freestyle world, and for a while I was just observing and taking it all in. Then one day I was in the car listening to “Sweetheart” by Rainy Davis, and it just stuck with me. It made me think about how great that song is and how you don’t really hear it as often anymore.

LATIF: Oh, so that’s why you remade it?

LANAH: Yes, but I wanted to give it a fresh sound while still keeping that nostalgic feel. At the time, I wasn’t thinking too far ahead. I just wanted to do something creative and see what would happen. I didn’t expect much, but the response ended up being bigger than I imagined.

LATIF: You did a great job on it. DJ Wonder Rican sent it to me and said he wanted to put it on the Flash 3. I heard it and was like, whoa… Who is this?

LANAH: Thank you. That whole experience really opened my eyes to the freestyle community. The culture, the fans, the love for the music, it’s something special. That connection is a big part of what keeps me inspired to keep making this kind of music.

I paused, leaning back slightly to look at what I’ve created so far… which still looks like absolutely nothing. Lanah tilts her head, looking at her own painting, already confident that it will have a place on her wall.

LATIF: What’s something about the music business that surprised you?

LANAH: When I first got into music, I was part of a Merengue cover band and I was a singer. Coming back into it recently, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone. I’m naturally more on the shy, introverted side, so interviews were something I never really thought about. Now I see how much of a role they play, and I’ve had to get more comfortable talking about myself. It’s funny because it’s actually easier for me to sing than it is to sit through an interview sometimes.

LATIF: Well, keep releasing those bangers and you’ll be doing a lot more interviews.

Lanah let out a slight giggle

LATIF: So how would you describe your sound to our readers who haven’t heard your music yet?

LANAH: I would definitely say unique. Tony and I love Freestyle, but we also try to move away from the norm and make music that feels innovative in both the singing style and the lyrics.

LATIF: What part of your music would you say the fans are connecting to the most right now?

Lanah stops painting and stares into the air before answering

LANAH: Each release has had something different to offer. The remake of “Sweetheart” was nostalgic, “So Good” had a slow vibe in the verses and switched up in the break, and “Beyond Goodbye” is a slow, deep freestyle song. Each song has its own vibe, which I believe is what’s keeping the audience interested.

Lanah switches brushes, a smaller one. I follow her lead, pretending I know what the hell I’m doing… but I don’t!

LATIF: What’s one thing about your music you feel is still misunderstood?

LANAH: Being so new. I am in a genre that’s not listened to by everyone, and it can be a bit challenging to get a younger audience to connect with it.

LATIF: Let’s talk about You and Tony for a second here, because you’re building this together, what’s the biggest advantage of having your partner as your producer?

LANAH: Being in the music industry is not for everyone. It would have been very challenging if I did not have someone on my side who believed in what I was doing. Tony produces, writes, promotes, and does my music videos, and that makes all of this possible. Not too many people have that kind of support.

LATIF: And you’re right. It would’ve been very challenging, so you’re in a pretty blessed position. But now, on the flip side... what’s the biggest challenge of mixing marriage and music?

LANAH: I haven’t really come across challenges. Not yet at least. Tony is pretty well connected to the Freestyle genre, and I trust him to make the best decisions for me and my music career.

LATIF: What about creative differences? Do you have them, and if so, how are they handled?

LANAH: We are both pretty strong-willed, but we work well together and make sure every release is something we both love 100%.

LATIF: What’s something Tony brings out in you that might not be there otherwise?

LANAH: Discovering new and different ways of singing that I may not have ever considered. For example, “So Good” the verses had a softer style that I had never done in other songs. He pushes me outside that comfort zone.

LATIF: Well, that chemistry between you two is definitely working.

I step back again… and for the first time, I think I might actually see something forming on my canvas. Or maybe I’m just trying to convince myself.

LATIF: What about when you’re not making music? What else is Lanah Skye into?

Lanah stops painting and smiles, as if I touched on a special part of her life.

LANAH: I love to travel. If I’m not focused on music, I’m usually thinking about where I want to go next. I want to see different places and experience different cultures. Traveling really changes you every time you go somewhere new. And of course I enjoy painting as you can see, gesturing toward the walls around us

LATIF: “Yes, I do see.”

LANAH: I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like, but when I do, I like to put on music, light some incense, and just paint whatever comes to me. I’ve even taken on repainting entire houses before. It’s definitely a creative outlet for me.

LATIF: Well thank you for not inviting me over to paint your house.

LANAH: That’ll be for the next interview.

We both laughed, but I was serious.

LATIF: Okay now, let’s have a little fun here. If you could record a duet with one Freestyle legend, who would it be? Only one.

LANAH: Only one is tough, but I’d say La India. That would be incredible. I would love to see her come back and do another Freestyle track, and to be part of something like that would be amazing.

LATIF: Have you had a chance to perform live?

LANAH: Yes, I recently had the chance to perform and shared the stage with Willie Valentin and Synthia Figueroa

LATIF: Really, where at?

LANAH: San Antonio, Texas.

LATIF: San Antonio, practically a second home to me. People have no idea how big Freestyle is there. What did that feel like?

LANAH: Absolutely surreal. Being able to connect with people who genuinely enjoy your music, and then meet them in person is such a great feeling, and I’m looking forward to doing some more.

LATIF: You’ve clearly been putting in the work, Lanah, what does a typical “promo day” look like for you?

LANAH: Oh wow, Hmm, a typical promo day might include making videos. Posts with snippets of my songs, promoting my music and the website. I try my best to stay consistent. Tony is usually creating a promo video, and then we broadcast it across all social media platforms.

LATIF: What have you learned about self-promotion that most new artists don’t get yet?

LANAH: Self-promotion is everything, and it’s still something I’m getting more comfortable with. You have to believe enough in your music to push it every single day, a few times a day, even. If you don’t promote yourself, people will forget. I look at every day as another opportunity for new people to hear my music and learn about me.

I have to admit, the space Lanah set up for this interview is starting to kick in. The room’s feeling much warmer, and relaxed. Two creatives sharing space, doing what we love to do… create!

LATIF: Each time you’ve released a new song, did you feel like you released it strategically, or was it purely from an artistic place?

LANAH: Whenever we release a song, our mindset is, can someone listen to this over and over? Does the song create a feeling in us? Is it different? We don’t release a song until we’re both feeling it 100%, so yeah, I would have to say, it comes from an artistic place.

LATIF: You’ve now changed songs a few times, how do you decide when it’s time to switch, at least for The Blast poll?

LANAH: We’ve been dropping a new song every few months. First it was “Sweetheart,” then “So Good,” and now my latest single, “Beyond Goodbye.” I think it keeps things exciting and fair to have something new. It allows me to keep promoting different songs while giving people something fresh for the poll. It is a little risky though, because I never know if people will like the new song as much as the last one, but so far it’s been working out, so I’m definitely happy about that, and of course that I’ve been able to switch things up a bit.

Note: If an artist wins The Blast poll for three consecutive issues, they are allowed to switch to a new song for the fourth issue. However, if the new release does not perform well, the artist must keep it in rotation for three consecutive issues before they are allowed to either switch back to the previous song or replace it with a completely new one.

LATIF: Lanah, you dominated eight straight issues of this newsletter. And I’m talking about you went up against seasoned artists, and crushed it. Now you have an entire issue dedicated only to you and your success. Shit, we might just have to rename this The Lanah Blast Newsletter.

LANAH: I’d love that! Lanah laughed. But honestly, I never imagined I would be on this long. Eight months straight. It’s hard to believe, but I’m so appreciative to everyone that’s been supporting me.

LATIF: At what point did it stop feeling like luck and start feeling like responsibility?

LANAH: I never really felt it was luck. It’s always been a grind. What I’ve learned though, is that you have to stay relevant every month, not just when The Blast comes out. You have to promote yourself every day and build real relationships with the people who support your music.

I always make sure I acknowledge everyone who comments, reposts, and reaches out to say they enjoy my music. When The Blast comes around, people are so supportive and willing to share, subscribe, and vote. It’s never just luck. You have to put in the work, create quality music, promote consistently, and build strong relationships with your supporters.

LATIF: Do you feel pressure now every time your name is in the poll?

LANAH: Oh yeah, I feel it… every time! Everyone I’ve been on The Blast with has great music, many are well established, even legends. I‘m the new kid, so I gotta always give that extra push.

LATIF: Let’s be real, have you ever thought, “This might be the one I lose”?

LANAH: Yes, last month’s Blast Flash 3 was on fire, and I swore this was it! Sharyn Maceren has a lot of supporters and is very active on social media, so she definitely gave me a run for my money.

LATIF: What was going through your mind on those final few hours when those votes started shifting? I had to grab me some popcorn for that one.

LANAH: A lot was going through my mind, and my anxiety was through the roof.

LATIF: But you won!

LANAH: I did. Lanah replied with a sort of relieved tone.
This might sound strange, but I want everyone to win. I feel like we are all winners because we have a chance to get our music out there and connect with people who truly love it.

LATIF: I get it, and I agree.

Lanah looked back down and continued painting.

LATIF: Speaking about that intense final night against April and Sharyn Maceren, what was happening behind the scenes on your end? I mean, the way it seemed to me, was like none of you slept.

LANAH: I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to wake up to learn that I lost, so I stayed up. I did everything I could to promote. I reposted, made videos, put up new posts, and reached out to as many people as I could to help me. It was amazing to see how many people showed up, and at that time!

LATIF: But you see, that’s the key to a hit song. It’s not only about producing a great record, it’s about pushing the hell out of it once you do, and that’s the purpose behind the the Flash 3, which by the way we are now calling The Freestyle Blast Off.

LANAH: Oooh I like that!

LATIF: When Sharyn caught up and tied you... what did that feel like? I know it had me at the edge of my seat.

LANAH: Even more anxiety! Lanah laughed. Honestly. I thought, “That’s it, it’s over.”

LATIF: Were you watching the numbers constantly, or trying to stay away from it?

LANAH: I did my best to stay away from it, but it was hard. I peeked in a few times, though I probably shouldn’t have.

LATIF: It was the final stretch, and you took it. How did that happen?

LANAH: Shout out to all of my supporters for that one. They stepped up and helped carry me to the finish line.

LATIF: And it’s important that you say that, because in the music business, we can be as talented as they come, but if people aren’t buying the music, the merch, or going to the shows, all that talent means nothing. So yes, shout out to all of your supporters, all of the supporters of Freestyle in general.

Lanah looks at me with a huge smile in total agreement.

LATIF: After the win, what was the first thing you said to Tony?

LANAH: Well Tony was the one that told me that I’d won. I was like, “Are you serious? I was super shocked.

LATIF: Do you think winning repeatedly comes more from the music you’re putting out, the grind you’re putting in, or that connection you’re making with the fans?

LANAH: I honestly think it comes from all three, but mostly from the connection with supporters. I don’t like the word “fans,” so I use “supporters.” When you build a solid support base, people show up for you. Every comment, post, and share means everything to me.

LATIF: Where do you see Lanah Skye one year from now?

LANAH: Definitely getting more shows and expanding internationally.

LATIF: What’s one goal you haven’t told anyone yet, that you would love to reach with your music career?

LANAH: I’d love to take my music to Asia. I love Asia, and it would be a dream to have my music playing there.

LATIF: Well, here’s some good news if you didn’t already know. Places like Japan, The Philippians, Guam, and even Hawaii have huge Freestyle communities. The Cover Girls and Lisette Melendez were huge in Japan. Artists like Jocelyn Enriquez and Jaya have performed many times in their homeland of the Philippians. Pretty much everyone’s done Hawaii as there’s a huge Freestyle community there, and this past January I brought The Cover Girls, Shannon, and Jocelyn Enriquez to Guam. So that’s a pretty attainable goal, and I’ll make sure to put in a good word for you.

LANAH: That would be amazing. Thank you.

LATIF: What would you say to all the those voters who have been riding with you for the past eight issues of The Blast.

LANAH: Thank you everyone, for taking the time each month to vote. You’ve shown me so much love and support, and it means so much to me.

LATIF: So here’s my final question: What do you say right now to the next two artists stepping into the ring with you, and how far are you willing to go to make sure your streak doesn’t end with them?

Lanah takes her time, giving her answer some serious thought.

LANAH: I would say to the next two artists, give it all you got. The Freestyle Blast is about more than winning. It is a way to keep spreading this genre we love so much, a way for Freestyle to be heard, and a way to connect with our supporters. I will continue doing what I have been doing until the time comes for me to step down.

LATIF: That was lovely, though I was sort of expecting you to say something like “I’m coming to whoop your asses!”

LANAH: No, I’m not gonna say that, Latif.

LATIF: Okay okay, and for the rest of our readers who have stuck around and read this entire interview, what else would you like them to know, that maybe I haven’t touched on?

LANAH: First, I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me on this journey, it really means more than you know. Whether it’s listening to the music, coming out to shows, or just showing love online, I appreciate all of it.
I’m currently working on my upcoming album, Love Language, and I’m really excited for everyone to hear it. There’s a lot of new music, music videos, and content on the way, along with a few surprises. I’m just focused on creating something real that people can connect to.

LATIF: And how can people connect with you, and stay up on everything you’re doing?

LANAH: Definitely at LanahSkyeMusic.com and of course on all social media @lanahskyemusic. Oh, And to the freestyle community, thank you for keeping this music alive. If we continue to support each other and stay united through the love of music, this genre will keep growing for future generations.

LATIF: Well Lanah, it’s been an absolute pleasure. I was a fan before, and an even bigger fan now. Thank you for allowing me to interview you, and for giving the Freestyle Blast community the opportunity to share your journey. Good luck with everything, and we’ll see you at the top!

As the final words settle into the room, so does the silence. Brushes slow… then stop. Lanah finally steps from behind her canvas, and after a moment, I do the same. Two paintings. Two completely different worlds. Both finally revealed. Yet somewhere between the color, the conversation, and the quiet pauses I tried to fill, this interview became something else. It became a reminder that creativity has no ceiling, no boundaries, because with vision, vulnerability, and courage… SKYE’S THE LIMIT.

“Inspired by my passion for fiction writing, the interview setting has been creatively dramatized, while the interview itself remains authentic.” – Latif Mercado

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