Get to Know: Armanii

Armanii makes music that sits at the intersection of dancehall melody and emotional storytelling. The Kingston born artist has been steadily carving out his place in the genre with a sound he describes as “worldly dancehall,” blending the rhythmic pulse of Jamaica with R&B influenced melodies and introspective songwriting.  Today, when asked how he would describe his sound to someone hearing his music for the first time, he keeps the explanation simple. 

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong

“Worldly dancehall,” he says. The phrase reflects the way his music moves between influences. While rooted firmly in dancehall, Armanii’s songs often incorporate R&B melodies and structures that differ from the traditional format many listeners expect from the genre. 

“Some of my songs have different structures,” he explains. That versatility can be heard throughout his catalogue. Some records lean into energetic rhythms built for the dancefloor, while others explore romance, vulnerability, or sensuality. For Armanii, the mood of a song often grows from whatever emotion or experience he is processing in the moment. He sees his sound as something that can travel, grounded in Jamaica but open to the world, allowing him to speak to listeners beyond one space or audience. 

Those emotional themes of love, heartbreak, and self discovery appear frequently in his work. Rather than separating life from songwriting, he tends to draw directly from what he is experiencing, allowing the music to reflect different stages of growth. That emotional honesty has become one of the defining threads running through his catalogue.

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong

That approach came together most clearly on his debut album THE IMPACT, a project that marked a defining moment in his career. The album represents a step forward from earlier releases, offering a fuller picture of his range as an artist while continuing to explore the themes that have always shaped his writing. For Armanii, music was always present, even before he imagined it as a career. Growing up in Kingston, sound was woven into the rhythm of daily life. Sunday mornings often meant cleaning the house while music filled the background, usually the voices of Beres Hammond or Garnett Silk playing through the speakers.

“It was the usual Jamaican household,” he says. Those early memories became some of the first moments that shaped his connection to music, even if he didn’t realise it at the time. The combination of soul, reggae and lovers rock created a foundation rooted in feeling, something that would later surface in the emotional tone of his own records. In many ways, that environment taught him that music was a vessel for atmosphere, identity and expression.

Before music took centre stage, Armanii’s focus looked very different. As a teenager he was heavily involved in athletics and for a while he saw himself more as an athlete than an artist. Music, however, kept finding its way back to him. Coming from a family of singers meant there was always some musical influence around him. Teachers, friends and people close to him often pointed out his ability to sing, but for a time he admits he was in denial about where that talent might lead. 

“I was in denial about it,” he says. It wasn’t until around ninth grade that he started to seriously consider music as a real path. As he began leaning into the idea, certain songs helped shape the way he thought about melody and emotion. One that stayed with him in particular was “Soul Provider” by Romain Virgo. 

The project also arrives at a moment when dancehall itself is evolving. Many artists from the current generation are experimenting with global influences, bringing elements of R&B, Afrobeats, and other sounds into the genre while maintaining its foundation.  For Armanii, being part of that new wave carries a sense of responsibility, especially when it comes to representing Jamaica. 

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong

Kingston remains central to his identity, and the support of local audiences has played a major role in shaping his journey. In Jamaica, artists often have to earn that support through consistency and authenticity, something he continues to value as his audience grows internationally. 

Collaboration has also become part of that growth. Armanii has worked with artists including Jada Kingdom and Malie Donn, partnerships that bring different textures and energies into his music. 

Beyond the studio, performance is another space where he feels naturally comfortable. Long before performing on major stages, he gained experience singing in church and participating in theatre, environments that helped shape the way he connects with audiences. Those early experiences taught him how to command a stage and communicate emotion through performance, skills that continue to define his live shows today. 

As his career continues to expand, Armanii is also stepping into larger global spaces. He has appeared at events like Billboard Hip Hop R&B Live and in UK at London’s OVO Arena Wembley as part of the New Rules Festival, bringing his music to audiences beyond Jamaica while staying grounded in the culture that shaped him. 

Alongside these milestones, Armanii has also continued to lean into one of the audiences that has supported him most throughout his journey. Women. That connection helped inspire an extended version of his debut album titled THE IMPACT Deluxe PGLA Edition Pretty Girls Love Armanii. The single NEW TINGZ leading the way for the deluxe, produced by Hitmaka and really leans into R&B with a smooth sample of Into You, Fabulous ft. Tamia.

The title for the project grew organically from a phrase fans had already begun using online and at shows. For Armanii, turning that sentiment into a project felt like a natural next step.

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong

The release expands on the themes of romance, confidence, and emotional connection that run throughout his music. Many listeners, particularly women, had been asking for more songs that speak directly to them, something the project responds to directly. He has spoken about wanting the project to feel celebratory while still intentional, creating space for women to feel seen, appreciated and empowered within the music. 

Rather than simply adding new tracks, the release also reflects Armanii’s intention to create music that celebrates and uplifts women while still maintaining the playful, feel good energy that has become a signature of his sound. 

At the heart of it all, his goal remains simple. 

He wants listeners to connect with the music on a personal level, whether that means recognising their own experiences in a lyric or simply feeling the emotion behind a melody. 

Through soulful dancehall, honest storytelling, and a sound that moves fluidly across influences, Armanii represents a generation of artists expanding the possibilities of the genre while carrying its legacy forward.