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Because she adamantly
refuses to be constrained by approach or lyrical content, Etana has named her sophomore VP release “Free Expressions”. “This album was produced a little
differently from the first, most of the sessions were less planned so there is
more of a free vibe,” she explained. “I just wanted to express myself freely,
write just what I want without thinking too hard about what anyone’s opinion
would be, just doing music as I feel to do it.”
A mesmerizing performer
whose vocals are as culturally defining as South Africa’s Miriam Makeba or
Jamaica’s Marcia Griffiths and as dynamic as classic Whitney Houston, “Free Expressions”
furthers Etana’s reputation as a
skillful songwriter: she penned 12 of the album’s 14 tracks and their lyrical
sophistication, coupled with her dramatic deliveries, destroys any notion of
the dreaded sophomore curse. “I feel more confident as a writer now than a few
years back,” she shares, “because I am less concerned about what people think
about certain subjects, and certain points of view. I have learned that I can’t
please everybody and for the most part, people are very happy with what they
have been hearing.”
Indeed, people are so consistently
enthralled by Etana‘s music
that several of “Free Expressions’” songs have already
topped the charts in Jamaica and reggae charts internationally. “August Town”
was written in 2009 about an unwarranted police shooting on a community
gathering in the area of Kingston, where she was born and lived until quite
recently. London based producer Curtis Lynch Jr. heightens Etana’s impassioned
account of that tragedy with dub- influenced reverbs and soul shaking bass
lines. “Free”, produced
by Kemar “Flava” McGregor, offers a somber reflection of a prolonged period of
struggle endured by the artist. “While recording that song I had to go outside
and catch my breath, then come back and do it again,” Etana shares. “It brought
me to tears. I wrote it when I was going through one of the toughest times in
my life and I felt like it wouldn’t end.”
In 1992 Etana migrated with her mother to the U.S. She went on
to attend Broward Community College with the intention of becoming a registered
nurse but destiny intervened. She left college in 2000 and joined a female
vocal group named Gift. Universal Records was interested in Gift at the time,
so Etana reluctantly agreed to wear the skimpy outfits
dictated by the music industry’s widespread stereotyping of female artists;
then one day she could no longer conform. “We were shooting a video and we had
on Victoria’s Secret pink lingerie, thongs and black stiletto heels,” Etana
remembers. “The cameraman had the camera in a compromising position and I was
wondering, what is he looking at? I was very uncomfortable, so I walked out and
that was it. I also recall a young girl about 6 years old singing some of my
suggestive lyrics and I couldn’t believe I had introduced her to lyrics like
that.”
Etana returned to Kingston with the intention of
opening an Internet café but again destiny interceded. In 2005 a friend brought
her to Kingston’s Fifth Element Records, then the management team of Richie
Spice, who were enjoying great success with Spice’s single “Earth A Run Red”
and album “Spice In Your Life”. Spice was heavily booked for American and
European tours and Etana
auditioned to become one of his backup vocalists; she so impressed Spice’s
management, she was immediately asked to accompany the Rastafarian singer on
his tour dates and she agreed. Recognizing her immense talent, Fifth Element
urged Etana to record her own songs, but because of her experiences with Gift, Etana wasn’t sure she wanted to pursue a career in music
again. Following almost a year of their requests, she agreed. “I decided to
give music another shot after being asked repeatedly to record one song, which
was “Wrong Address,” Etana explained. “After I figured out that I could do it
my way and wear what I wanted to wear and sing what I wanted to sing, it wasn’t
so hard.” Etana followed the highly praised “Wrong Address” with a spate of
hits singles, each honoring her embracement of Rastafarian principles,
adherence to a natural lifestyle, acknowledgement of the teachings of Marcus
Garvey and Emperor Haile Selassie I and royal representations of women. Etana’s
debut album “The Strong One” garnered many awards, including Album of the Year honors at
the International Reggae and World Music
Awards (IRAWMA) in New York City and at the Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards (EME) in Kingston. Etana was also nominated as Best New Reggae Artist at
London’s annual MOBO Awards in 2008.
Adhering to song lyrics
that reinforce self-sufficiency, enlightened spirituality, sultry but never
tawdry romantic situations and keenly observed political commentaries, “Free Expressions” is poised to reap similar accolades. “War”,
produced by Patrick Samuels, addresses the reasons for continual global conflict,
including religious divides and racial stereotyping, yet offers hope that these
harmful prejudices can be eradicated; “Retribution”, produced by Stephen
Stanley, warns of the karmic consequences that result from each of our actions.
Etana’s
unabashed romanticism on the lovers’
rock tunes “I Know You Love Me” and “Happy Heart”, both produced by Flava, is
contrasted by the disillusionment that accompanies her partner’s infidelity on “Heart Broken”, produced by Curtis Lynch Jr. and Gussie Clarke.
“Move
On” also produced by Lynch,
adapts a neo-soul, reggae fusion that cautiously veers into C&W territory
to a break-up tale that embraces life’s new possibilities, as does the upbeat
reggae track “My Name Is”,
produced by Stephen Stanley.
Etana highlights her soulful side on “I Got You” produced by Specialist and Alborosie, a song
that can be interpreted on many levels. “That song relates to my life with my
mother and especially my grandmother,” she explains, “but it could be about
someone’s relationship with God or anyone they are close to at troubled times.”
“Day
By Day” produced by Joel Chin,
offers spiritual renewal, with Lamont Savory’s subtle acoustic guitar textures
underscoring the nuances of Etana’s exquisite vocal phrasing.
“People Talk”, produced by Rohan Dwyer and Specialist, was
written by Carol Dexter, especially
for Etana, reflecting her determination to succeed against
all odds in the music business, but the song’s fortifying sentiment is easily
applicable to anyone seeking to overcome their detractors’ taunts: “never let
them get you down, never let them see you frown, never let them lead you
astray, starting today, live your life your way”.
Source: VP Records
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