Local dance hall artist Fiyah Marshall is hoping a recent move to Los Angeles will add heat to his career.The 27-year-old whose real name is Alex, said his relocation three months ago has sparked his creativity and inspired even more diversity in his sound.He’s now preparing to release a slew of singles with mainstream rap artists like Jadakiss, Cassidy and Twista. He also plans to release his first full-length album, ‘Blazin’, at the end of summer, thanks to a distribution deal with Fontana/ Universal Records.Mr Marshall, who had been living in Miami, described LA as “a melting pot of creativity”.“Everyone encourages each other out here [in California]. If you have an idea or are trying to accomplish something you can always find support to come on board.“There are a lot of other places where you meet resistance and when you try and stand out and move forward you get a lot of haters and people trying to pull you down or discourage you, but in LA I’ve found a lot of other people are trying to find their passion be it in music, acting or whatever.“It’s the complete opposite from other places. I love it, so I am largely going to be based between L.A and Bermuda.”He also plans to try his hand at acting, having minored in theatre while studying international business at college.Although he sang with Bermuda Philharmonic choir as a youngster, it wasn’t until five or six years ago that he started recording music seriously and became certified in audio engineering.Since releasing singles like ‘Take You Away’ and ‘Searchin’ two years ago, he’s learned a lot about the challenges of trying to make it in the competitive industry.“It’s been hard, but in Bermuda especially because a lot of people are harsh critics, so we have to do the most to prove to them, but it’s cool.“I’ve learned to be stubborn and persistent because it’s my dream and I will follow it no matter what anyone says.”That dedication has helped him achieve some major career milestones in the past six months.He was able to tour with one of his idols, reggae artist Marlon Asher, last November. Mr Marshall is also working with producer Dwayne Da Rock, whose clients include everyone from The Game to Busta Rhymes.His upcoming album shows a lot more diversity, he said.“It’s a different sound from what they are used to in the industry because I am trying to make something that is a blend of reggae, hip hop and house music and a lot of other vibes.”His single ‘Never Stop’, has been getting a “decent amount” of air time in places like New York, Chicago and Texas. The song’s music video, shot in the former Moon Nightclub, has accumulated more than 310,000 views on YouTube.Another song, ‘Secret Fantasy’ featuring US singer Cristi Gallo, has also been played on the Music Choice channel.Despite the challenges, he said he couldn’t imagine himself in a career that involved working behind a desk.He said: “I wouldn’t want to be working a regular 9 to 5 and be thinking ‘What if?’ for the rest of my life. I try and live by this phrase: ‘Go big or go home’ and there’s no going home for me.”His goal is to get his music heard everywhere, but he also wants to encourage and inspire young musicians and singers to reach for the stars.“There’s no point in having celebrity or fame unless you can make a difference. I have an idea about some things I want to do to give back and when I get there I will know what exactly, but I want to have a positive influence and do what I can.”For information on upcoming performances in Bermuda and the release of new singles, visit the Fiyah Marshall Facebook page.