The year was 2007. In Bengal, violence erupted in Nandigram. A few months into the year, Islamist factions bombed Samjhauta Express, a train connecting Delhi and Lahore. That year, Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union and on June 29, Apple unveiled the very first iPhone. But we were young and it was all a part of the background. We were more interested in the background score, which, for many of us, comprised Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls, a catchy reggae pop number about a man feeling suicidal because a beautiful girl he loves said, "It's over." A decade later, 28-year-old Kingston is touring India, and will perform in the city in collaboration with the Women's Cancer Initiative at Tata Memorial Hospital to raise funds for and spread awareness about breast cancer. Edited excerpts from the interview.

You were 17 when your first album came out. Was the paparazzi, pressure and criticism overwhelming at such a young age?
I was struggling in the beginning of my career like any freshman. Having reggae roots and avoiding profanity in my lyrics helped me. My single debut album was acknowledged by both music lovers and fellow musicians. The song was on the top charts in the US, UK, Australia and other countries. I did not expect that kind of response, but yes, I was extremely overwhelmed. It gave me the confidence to come up with another song, and then Fire Burning happened in 2009. There was pressure, but it kept me going.