Armanii admits he is a little nervous. Not about the interview itself, just the day in general. New York, deep into a press run, juggling schedules, adjusting to the cold temperatures, and counting down the hours until his album THE IMPACT officially drops. Though he came off as anxious, he assures me the nerves feel less like anxiety and more like awareness. He knows this is a big moment, and he’s ready for it.
By the time the album drops, Armanii will have spent the week moving between interviews, taking in a version of New York that still feels new despite having lived there before. “It’s cold, first of all,” he says, laughing. “But it’s a good experience for me. It’s the first time for the majority of the stuff that we did.”
His first real press run, first album released through independent distribution platform UnitedMasters, and first time carrying a body of work that feels like a true introduction rather than a preview.
His schedule entails another stop on a packed New York day, then he’s heading to Miami for a performance. The album will be out by the time most people read this. Listeners will form their own opinions, latch onto their own favorite songs, and project their own meanings onto the music.
Yet, the momentum feels far from rushed. When asked whether the last year has moved fast, he quickly shakes his head. “The years before that, we worked up towards this moment,” he explains. “It doesn’t feel fast, it doesn’t feel slow. It just feels like right place, right time.”
That perspective makes sense when you consider how long music has been part of his life. Born and raised in Kingston, Armanii grew up surrounded by sound. He started singing at four years old, competing in vocal contests and spending much of his childhood in church as a praise and worship leader alongside his mother, who’s a pastor.
Music wasn’t something he stumbled into by accident. His upbringing shaped his voice and musical taste long before streaming became a thing. “I’ve been singing my whole life,” he says.
Photo Credit: Alvin Kean Wong
Even when the production hits hard, there is a melodic control underneath it. His lyrics don’t lean towards the overt explicitness that defined much of the dancehall I grew up on. There are moments where the edge shows up, but it never lingers. I mention that his music feels like something you can listen to with your mom in the car. He smiles, knowing exactly what I mean.
THE IMPACT came from a desire to reach different people at different stages of life. “When you think of impact, you think of a way life changes,” he explains. “I made sure each song could at least hit somebody. You’re going to be able to sing at least one song on the project.”
The album’s pacing and emotional range reflects that intention. The opening track “CHAMPION” sets the tone with bold confidence, while other records lean into vulnerability and reflection. When asked which song feels most powerful to him personally, he doesn’t hesitate. “LOSE YOUR LOVE,” he says. “Everybody can sing it. My little sister can sing it. Moms can sing it.” He describes it as nostalgic, pulling from the influence of artists who influenced his early understanding of music and feeling, like Beres Hammond and Bob Marley.
Rather than boxing himself in, Armanii describes his sound as “worldly.” Dancehall sits at the core, but the production intentionally blends R&B, soul, and global rhythms like my personal favorite, “BALCONY” with Jada Kingdom. He wants the music to travel without losing its accent. “Being Jamaican is a superpower,” he says. “The core of it is always going to be Jamaica, dancehall. But I make sure the production is something everybody else can have fun with.”
That balance has helped his music resonate far beyond Jamaica. With over 100 million global streams and a fast-growing international audience, Armanii has found himself dealing with the inevitable criticism that comes after an artist blows up. Some listeners claim his songs sound similar, an argument he doesn’t shy away from addressing. “When people say that, I know they don’t listen [to me] for real,” he says with certainty. He points out that his biggest records don’t define his entire catalog and shrugs off the noise. At least they’re listening.
What stands out most on this album is his growth. On THE IMPACT, he felt it was necessary to push himself outside of his usual comfort zone, experimenting with beat selection and track sequencing. “They’re not really down the lane everybody expected,” he says while talking about songs like “SHY” and “U A GWAN.”
Armanii records almost every day, even after turning in an album. He jokes that he could drop multiple projects right now if he wanted to. The studio is both a workspace and therapy for him. Some songs come from lived experience, others from observation or imagination.
But despite the discipline he brings to the job, he draws a clear line between who he is on and off record. “Music me is more serious, stern, calculated,” he says. “Normal me is just like anybody else.” He scrolls, laughs at the same jokes, watches the same content on some of our ‘For You’ pages. That separation feels especially important as his fame grows. Fame has changed how he navigates trust and personal space, but he isn’t bitter about it. He thinks of it as a learning process rather than a loss. He’s more protective of his energy, explaining that anyone who comes into his life must align with where he’s at in life right now rather than be a distraction.
Photo Credit: Alvin Kean Wong
Fatherhood has also shifted something in him. While he keeps the details private, it’s clear that becoming a dad has added another layer to how he thinks about time, responsibility, and legacy. Christmas plans are shaped around work right now, but he is already thinking about the traditions he wants to create. “I have to start from scratch,” he says. What matters is making each year feel special for his son.
He’s just as intentional about what he shares with the world. When the conversation turns to his age, Armanii keeps things unusually vague, smirking through the moment like it’s a part of an inside joke I’m not privy to. He confirms he’s “in his twenties,” then quickly pivots, making it clear that his age isn’t important. The mystery is a part of the brand.
Armanii seems comfortable leaving some things undefined. Age, to him, doesn’t seem to dictate maturity or talent. He jokes that he will be here forever, but his tone carries an underlying assurance.
Outside of music, Armanii’s personality shines through in small, unexpected ways. He isn’t overly talkative throughout our conversation, but he has very strong opinions about video games and fashion. He’s been hooked on Fortnite, and harbors a deep dislike for tight skinny jeans and certain polo shirts. The issue is not the clothing itself, but the way people attach status to it, especially in Jamaican culture. He prefers simplicity, like the plain black H&M tee he is wearing during our talk.
In his downtime, he enjoys watches YouTube videos of people trekking into extreme environments for survival content.
That duality is what makes THE IMPACT feel honest. The album sounds like a reflection of a young artist who has done the groundwork, who respects the culture he comes from, and who understands that growth doesn’t require abandoning your core.
