Ayetian, Govana sizzle on ‘Wah Yo Deh Pan’

Dancehall artistes Ayetian and Govana say that their collaboration, 'Wah Yo Deh Pan', was a "well needed fun track fi hot up di place like peppa".

"Fun is needed... the dancehall scene was dark for a number of years and now it's happier and more energetic and that's good because in life, we all need balance. When you're down, yuh need things to lift yuh spirits, make yuh forget whatever yuh going through and happy. Music is that escape for a lot of people," Govana told THE STAR.

Ayetian, who's now dubbed as 'Mr Ram Putu' from the song's catchy punchline, has been on a solid trajectory since his rise to fame and admitted that he is definitely on the road to a musical takeover.

"If you've watched how I carry myself on stage, I use that same energy to figure out what people want to hear and I put those elements into the songs I sing... [so] I'm the next big thing, yes, the people's choice. And not just in dancehall but internationally. My name says it all," he said.

Wah Yo Deh Pan has been racking up positive feedback, which has spiralled since the visuals were released for the single two weeks ago. The trending track has since surpassed 2.5 million views, more than 57,000 likes and approximately 3,000 comments, supporting not just the lyrical composition but the "life and fun" it brought back in dancehall. Ayetian, who is of Haitian descent, said the song came about from vibing in the studio with the team and some ladies who were part of the energy.

"That's where the line ' Big b***y gyal, a wah yo deh pan' came from. I was just striving to create a moment that brought us all together. It's simply the lifestyle... I always try to tap into what the music world really needs and say the things that get people moving along. Nowadays, it's the little things that matter the most," he said. He noted that the feedback has been "very enlightening".

"I can't even express how happy I feel. I'm just here to make people smile, dance, and enjoy the music," said Ayetian.

With the section of the song which sings ' Ram Putu Nuh Nyam Putu' resonating deeply with the fans, as it's accompanied by Ayetian's 'head shake' dance move, fans are intrigued by the term 'Ram Putu'.

The term's conceptualiser, Anthony Hutchinson, explained to THE STAR that "both words are old Jamaican phrases - 'ram' coming from 'ram goat' [and speaks to] the animal's forceful ramming behaviour, and 'putu' meaning vagina".

"It is also a double entendre, when he said ' Ram putu nuh nyam putu', the 'ram putu' also means 'ramp with who'" explained Hutchinson, who's also the co-owner of Ayetian's resident recording label - TrapMilli Entertainment.

In addition to the gimmicks and play on words and imagery displayed, Ayetian said Govana's thumping vocals were perfect to drive the song to the hearts of fans. Govana opined that it was a "good partnership", and the energy was good, smooth and seamless.

"It's a good look for the [dancehall] space in my opinion because there's always conversation about old school dancehall versus new school. So to merge both is a good way to please the space as a whole, so fans of all age can enjoy the music," he opined.