BY MICHAEL THOMAS
Try thinking of a crooner that puts all the feelings of a soul singer into a reggae ballad. Who comes to mind?
Think about a female Reggae artist that is as equally passionate as Gladys Knight. Now who comes to mind?
Etana is a reggae Diva with the range of Whitney Houston, mixed with some Jamaican lingo. This can be heard when one listens to her latest track called Bubble, which the singer said comes from just wanting to spread more love in these troubled times.
This crooner grew up in August Town Jamaica, but moved to Florida at an early age. She started doing back up singing for Mr. Richie Spice, and is now lighting up the planet with her unique style of reggae vibes as only she can.
On her recent single, Etana gives the impression that she has really and truly found the love of a lifetime, and has no intention of letting go. She is willing to do hard-time to keep her man if that is what it takes.
This artist has proved that she is not to be taken lightly. Her album “Reggae Forever” was released on March 2018, and was number one on the Billboard reggae albums chart for two consecutive weeks, making her the first female in more than two decades, in reggae, to gain top position twice on the chart.
The single is available now as an instant grat track. The pre-order of Gemini releasing is on June 19th via Freemind Music – Zojak World Wide.
Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the honor of speaking with Etana at length about her musical journey, life and children. The crooner discloses that the soulful sounds and all the feelings people hear when listening to her songs comes from her life’s journey. All the pain, the struggles, and the happy times; they all make up the package that is Etana.
I asked Etana about the inspiration behind the song Bubble. “It is just a love song written to pull people together. A statement was put out that said people were having problems, that there were high separation and divorce rates due to COVID-19.”
Etana told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that after moving from VP records, she started her own team Freemind Music, and it was an experience for her to find out the cost of doing things herself, but she is no weakling and success followed her. Soon after the release of her first independent album, and while touring she got the good news that she was number one on the Billboard Reggae albums chart.
“I think touring had a lot to do with that,” she said, “It was also surprising to me to learn that my first project, that I created with my own team independently got nominated.”
As for her expectations about her music the reggae crooner said, “When I put out music I never expect anything except for my fans to hear it, and then they decide where it goes after that. Any project that I have done, I release it and I just let my fans take it away. That makes me happy and grateful because it is done for them.”
Even though the reggae star has all this going on, she still finds time for family life. “I get up in the morning and make sure my two girls’ teeth are brushed, and make them breakfast. I take my daughter to dance and the other one to karate. I have had to be teacher, mommy, playmate and more.”
Etana was asked how she would like to be remembered and she answered, “As the one who gave people strength through music positively.”
Etana’s album called Gemini can be purchased through the iTunes store or pre-ordered.