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Popular dancehall artiste Iwaata is ecstatic to be on the artiste line-up for Sting 2023.

The Whisper entertainer made this revelation in an interview with THE STAR.

"The first time mi work Sting over JamWorld 2014, a me open Sting [and] about five people out deh wid the video man dem ... and mi work like a three million people out deh. Mi might nuh deh yah as long as di giants dem, but mi a giant too. Mi always a work amongst the giants dem," said the artiste. His booking was confirmed by Sting founder Isaiah Laing.

Iwaata also stated that despite being a public figure, he is most times "very private and reserved" when it comes to media attention, as he would rather the focus be placed on his musical journey and "not what the media always seemed to want to convey about him".

During his time out of the media spotlight in recent months, the artiste said he has been "putting in the work" and creating new material daily. He will be releasing three EPs, with one specifically "dedicated to the ladies".

"The first EP is called Neptune, mi have another name Gyal Play, only female songs alone deh pon dat. The most recent one [is] called Fresh Cut...and mi think a this one first wi ago drop;" he said.

In relation to collaborations and tours, the Foot Play artiste said he has a number of major collaborations with various artistes from North and South America and Afrobeat artistes. One collaboration features Mavado and the track is currently dominating Panama and its surrounding countries.

"I also have a Afrobeat collab with two artistes that is doing well on the European market. A promotional tour [is set to take place] with me and the featured artistes soon ... wi jus' a work and mek di work talk fi itself," said Iwaata.

He added that other tours are slated for the US, the Caribbean, Africa and England starting in January.

Iwaata's road manager, Paul Morgan, said that the deejay is one of the most humble artistes he has worked with, but expressed fear that his humility might cost him.

"In order to get things done, you have to be on the aggressive side sometimes ... not only towards people but towards your career and everything that you do because wi live in a country where people are being taken for granted for being too humble," said Morgan. But Iwaata opined that he is very aggressive musically when necessary.

"Memba everybody can't be the same and humble calf dead fi hungry. Mi nuh dat humble, mi can get mad [aggressive] to...but mi know when fi get mad. A just [because] mi love sorry fi people a dats why [but] it can't affect mi career, a me alone can affect mi career," the artiste replied.

Despite his success, the artiste said his biggest achievement is more personal than musical.

"Mi always seh mi want a house wid mi mother and mi family inna it. Mi neva did live with mi mother ... mi always live wid mi aunty dem. So, fi grow around mi mother and have mi son a grow up wid mi mother a one a di biggest thing fi me. The next step a one a dem big house deh pon di hill...wi nuh run dung vanity, mi just want set a foundation fi mi son and mi youth dem to come," he said.