This week’s One to Watch is a 2025 rework by Steve Facey of the classic ‘Silly Games’ by Janet Kay.

Janet Kay MBE, known as the ‘Queen of Lovers Rock’, is a UK award winning reggae artist, actress , songwriter, creative and entrepreneur who was listed on King Charles III Honours List 2023 , receiving an MBE for her services to music.

Last year Janet performed at many festivals up and down the UK and also featured in the ‘Giants of Soul’ Tour, working alongside Denice Williams, Alexander O’Neil, Jaki Graham, Gwen Dickey (Rose Royce), Candace Woodson and Tundi Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family).

This year Janet will feature on the ‘Let’s Rock’ Tour, the largest retro festival in the UK and in August she will also appear at the ‘Reggaeland’ festival at Milton Keynes Bowl .

In 1979, Janet made history by becoming the first British born black female reggae artist to have a No. 1 in the British pop charts  The song ‘Silly Games’, (produced by Dennis Bovell) was a hit not only in the UK but also in Europe.

More recently , the song featured prominently in Steve McQueen’s film Lovers Rock, the second film in his 2020 anthology series Small Axe. As The New York Times states: “The lovesick kiss-off ‘Silly Games’ and its indelible high note play a pivotal part” in the film, with Bovell making an appearance in a cameo role.

Steve Facey’s reworking of this classic is proving popular on the radio and dance floors alike already, breathing new life into a classic for a new generation and one old enough to remember it the first time round !

Follow Janet on her website and socials:

www. janetkay.com

Insta: @janetkaymusic

Facebook: @janetkaymusic