There's something real about catching an artist right as things are starting to move. Not manufactured. Not over-polished. Just raw intention, figuring it out in real time. That's where Nesta is right now. When we sat down, the conversation didn't feel like someone trying to explain a career - it felt like someone building one. Raised around reggae, shaped by R&B, and driven by something deeper than just making songs, Nesta is carving out his own lane - one that leans into Lovers Rock, but pushes it somewhere new.  He talks about it simply: bridging gaps. Between reggae and R&B. Between generations. Between cultures that don't always speak the same musical language. And when you listen to him, you realize - that's not just a sound he's chasing.  That's the mission.

For people just discovering your music - who is Nesta? And what do you want them to understand about you beyond just your music?

So me, I'm a musician. I love all different kinds of music, right? But I'm a son of a reggae artist. He had a group called The Visionaires - my dad's name was Vision, AKA Basil Gayle.

And me, I'm just trying to take music to the next level as far as bridging my love for R&B and reggae together, and resurfacing Lovers Rock in the U.S. and turning it into something new - you get what I'm saying?

Other than that, I'm just a lover of music, man. I produce, I record myself - I do all those types of things on my own. So I'm very self-sufficient when it comes to music. You get what I'm saying? Yeah.

What was that moment where you realized this wasn't just something you loved, but something you had to pursue?

I feel like I felt like that all my life. When I was younger, I always wanted to produce, because I was more introverted - you get what I'm saying? I always knew I had a sense of melody and could hold a tune and stuff like that, but I really just wanted to make beats for people and learn how to record people.

Eventually, living in Florida and working with my friends, they told me, “Yo man, you should get on the mic.” So I started experimenting with my voice around 2012. Around that same time, my pops got sick. So right there, I knew it was something I really had to do - whether I wanted to or not. And I've been pursuing the artistry side of it ever since. I didn't realize it was going to be a whole other journey - finding my voice, finding my sound. It's a never-ending journey, a never-ending school - you get what I'm saying? You always have to aim to progress.

Coming up in the industry, what are the real challenges you're facing, especially trying to break into reggae?

I don't necessarily think there are too many challenges breaking into reggae. If you're good with music, it's going to resonate with the people - you get what I'm saying?

But me being in the States, trying to get people here to vibe with reggae - that's a little harder than getting reggae people to vibe. It's not always familiar to them. So for me, it's about meeting them on their level, their dialect - so it can connect. Because sometimes people will say they don't understand, you know? So if I can do it in a way where everyone can get it, that's my mission right now - bridging that gap. And also bridging the age gap - making something the older generation and the younger generation can both enjoy.

Because I feel like the older folks don't always have something new to look forward to from the younger generation. But if we can make it for everybody, that's what I'm trying to do - and it's working.

Your name carries weight in reggae culture - was that something that shaped your path, or something you had to grow into?

I wouldn't say I really thought of it like that. For me, going by Nesta is just paying homage to my pops. He never called me by my first name - he called me Nes or Nesta. My mom calls me Nessie. So it's just family names - you get what I'm saying? That's what I go by.

What artists and sounds were around you growing up that still live in your music?

It's a lot, man - a lot. My parents grew up in the '70s era, so I heard everything - from Culture, Joseph Hill, Burning Spear, Luciano...

On the Lovers Rock side - Beres Hammond, Peter Hunnigale, Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez...

Then Bushman, Turbulence, Sizzla - so many.

But also on the R&B side, because I have older siblings born here in the States - I grew up on '90s R&B. All kinds of artists, all kinds of sounds. So it's really a mix of both worlds.

And you can feel that in your music.

Yeah.

How do you balance honoring reggae roots while still building your own sound?

I feel like I'm honoring it by not talking nonsense in my music - you get what I'm saying? I'm making sure it's playable for everybody, dealing with things from a oneness perspective. And also keeping things authentic in the production. The melodies might lean R&B, but they still carry that same feeling. So yeah.

Reggae has always been about word, sound, and power. When you're creating, what drives you most?

For me, it starts with the melody. I don't really sit down and write everything out beforehand. My process is intuitive - just going in and building things on the spot. Like “Worthwhile,” that was a freestyle in my room. “Be My Love,” freestyle. “Your Love Alone,” freestyle.

Sometimes I'll write more when I'm working on other people's time, but for myself, it's mostly feeling it out in the moment. So yeah - for me, it's the sound first.

Is there a song you've recorded that felt like a turning point for you as an artist?

Yeah - “Worthwhile.” That's the one that really felt like, “This is who I am,” especially on the reggae side. But honestly, the whole EP feels like that.

Reggae has always carried a message - what are you trying to say with your music right now?

Right now, I'm just trying to spread love at the end of the day. That's the most important thing in the world. That's how we're going to get through things.

People don't always see eye to eye, but if you can see the Most High in everything, then you can love unconditionally. That's the mission.

Do you feel a responsibility as a reggae artist to speak on social or cultural issues, or do you let that come naturally?

I feel like that comes with the times - and different artists have different roles. Not everything has to be political just because it's reggae. Some artists are more spiritual, some are more about love, some help people heal.

I like to write in a way where people can interpret it and connect it to their own life.

How does your energy change performing live versus being in the studio?

In the studio, it's like being in my room - just me, you get what I'm saying? That's really my comfort zone.

On stage, I try to get into that same space, but it takes practice. You can't really rehearse a show by yourself - you have to actually go out there and do it. No matter how much you rehearse in a room, it's different when you're in front of people.

So I've been building that - doing open mics and getting on stage as much as I can. It's definitely a journey. Slowly but surely, I'm getting more comfortable up there.

What's been your most memorable performance so far - and what made it special?

That's hard to say. It changes night after night. Honestly, it might be tonight - you know?

I hope it is tonight!

What do you want people to feel when they leave your show?

A sense of peace. I want them to feel like they enjoyed themselves, and I want them to tap into the music - so they go back and check it out again.

How are you navigating building a fanbase in a digital world while staying true to reggae's roots?

I feel like what makes me stand out is using social media the way other genres do - but bringing that into reggae. I want artists to take matters into their own hands and promote themselves. You can't depend on someone else to push your music - you've got to stay active, keep posting, keep pushing.

And just because you're online doesn't mean you're leaving the roots - it's just sharing your world with more people.

What's the next chapter for you - what are you building toward right now?

I'm extending Your Love Alone - adding five or six more songs, more Lovers Rock vibes.

Just looking forward to dropping more music.

Five years from now, what does success look like for Nesta - not just in music, but in life?

Having my own place, my own yard - growing my own food.

Having a studio at home. Taking care of my family. Traveling the world with music.

And just continuing to grow and connect with more people.

When it's all said and done - what do you want your name to represent?

Love. Healing. Progression. Oneness.

That's what I want people to think when they hear Nesta.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life?

That's tough, man... that's a hard question. If you want to see my Apple Music, man - there's a lot on there. But if I had to pick something I could listen to from start to finish, it would have to be a Culture album. Maybe International Herb.

And I've got to give you one more - that's cheating - but Can't Stop a Man by Beres Hammond, The Ultimate Collection. That one's got like 39 songs - I'll be good for life.

Anything you want to leave people with?

Love and respect to everybody tuning in. I appreciate the opportunity. We're going to keep progressing - taking reggae music to the world.

Talking with Nesta, what stands out isn't just the music - it's the intention behind it. There's no rush to fit into a mold. No pressure to chase trends. Just a clear vision rooted in love, connection, and growth. Whether he's blending reggae with R&B, building his sound from scratch, or figuring out how to reach people beyond the culture, everything comes back to that same idea - making music that people can feel.

And he's still early in the journey. But that's what makes it interesting. Because if this is the foundation - self-built, self-driven, and grounded in purpose - then what comes next isn't just about bigger stages or more streams. It's about impact.

And if he stays on this path, don't be surprised if the name Nesta starts meaning exactly what he says it should: Love. Healing. Progression.

One Love - Todd M. Judd