They are hot, beautiful, sexy, bold and daring. And they can sing for their supper too. They are the female artistes who will grace this year's Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in the tourist mecca, Montego Bay.Flair presents them in all their glory - and with a little extra something that you did not know about some of them before.
MARY J BLIGE
Mary J
Mary J Blige is known across the world as one of the finest practitioners of modern R&B music. She has shown great versatility and has led a successful career. When her debut album hit in 1992, no one thought that 15 years later she would be regarded as the diva of R&B.
Born in the Bronx in 1971, her rough life produced many scars, physical and otherwise. She was lucky enough to have landed a break when her step-father heard a recording of a song she had done and passed it on to Uptown Records. In 1991, Sean 'Puffy' Combs took her under his wing and the rest, as they say, is history.
After the recording of her album My Life in 1995, she severed ties with Combs and went to MCA where she released Share My World in 1997. The album was another hit for Blige and debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.
Her fifth album, No More Drama, showed the her classic soulful side. In 2003, she was reunited with Sean Combs and produced several albums and number one hits. Her hit Be Without You spent nearly a year on the R&B charts.
Mary J Blige is the headline act for Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest's 'The Zenith' on Saturday, July 21.
Macka Diamond
Makka Diamond
Famous for her outrageous outfits and her straightforward lyrics, Macka Diamond is certainly not the new kid on the block.
With 15 years experience in the music industry, Charmaine Moore, as named by her parents, was possibly destined to walk this way as she grew up with a record producer for a father. He, Phillip Moore, worked with artistes like Gregory Isaacs and was friends with Sly and Robbie and King Jammy.
When she entered the dancehall, she was dubbed Lady Mackerel with fellow female deejay Lady Junie takingher under her wing.
She eventually changed her named to Macka Diamond and took her career to another level in 2003 with the release of Tek Con, which would mark the start of the association between Macka and relationship woes.
With other hits like Done A Ready and Bum Him and most recently her hip swirling Hula Hoop.
She is awaiting the release of her co-authored novel titled Bum Him, in August.
Flair asked Macka Diamond:
What's the average cost of your wardrobe for a performance like Sumfest, including hair and make-up?
MD: Approximately US$2,500.
Q: Have you encountered any difficulties in the music industry just because you're a woman?
MD: On a few stage shows, the men yuh weh, you can't get the microphone. But the stronger women like Lady Saw, we just deal with it.
Q: If you did not choose a career in music, what would you be doing?
MD: Something to do with modelling or fashion.
Q: What was the one item you wanted and was able to buy when got your first big cheque?
MD: I used the money to buy my house. It made me step out on my own and feel like a real woman.
ALAINE
Alaine
Singer Alaine came to the fore of the Jamaican music scene in 2004 and gained recognition for the single Chaka Chaka Love.
She always had a passion for music but pushed it aside to pursue academic goals. She earned a degree in management and psychology and moved to New York where she juggled working as an investment banker while pursuing a musical career.
Her love for music took precedence and Alaine returned home to make her dream a reality.
After Chaka Chaka Love, Alaine then gained more popularity for the hit single No Ordinary Love in collaboration with musical geniuses Sly and Robbie and Donovan 'Don Corleon' Bennett.
Other singles such as Deeper, Heavenly, Wine and Love Sound, made her an artiste to watch.
She first took the stage at Reggae Sumfest in 2005 and received positive responses that earned her return performances.
Flair asked:
Q. What's the average cost of your wardrobe for a performance like Sumfest, including hair and make-up?
A. I'll never tell. Thankfully, I don't pay to do my hair and make up because my mother is a cosmetologist, so she takes care of that for me ... for free.
Q. Have you encountered any difficulties in the music industry just because you're a woman?
A. I am thankful for the successes that I have enjoyed because I am a woman in the music industry and choose not to highlight the obstacles or difficulties.
Q. If you did not choose a career in music, what would you be doing?
A. I would be miserable. Before I started singing full-time three years ago, I worked in investment banking for a number of years, so I suppose that's what I'd do. But I wouldn't be happy doing it. It's music or nothing at all.
Q. What was the one item you wanted and was able to buy when you got your first big cheque?
A. I'm still waiting on my first big cheque.
TANYA STEPHENS
Tanya Stephens - Contributed photos
When Tanya Stephens puts pen to paper, you can be sure a great song will be the outcome.
Many describe her as a woman with a golden pen and Tanya, born Vivienne Stephenson, can easily be called one of the best female songwriters and singers Jamaica has seen in the last decade.
1993 saw her emergence on the Jamaican reggae scene with Is This For Real and it's been no turning back since.
Later, hits with statements of female sexual empowerment featured in the songs Goggle and Yuh Nuh Ready showed the lyrical artiste as one of promise. Tanya later took a few breaks from music to attend to personal, as well as career goals.
But it was her release of the album Gangsta Blues in 2004 that showed off her true talent.
Hits included It's A Pity which dominated charts worldwide. Her ability to speak to real life events while adding a bit of comedy to the mix, puts her way above her peers and puts her at the top of her game.
Her thought-provoking lyrics are powerful, sexy and cunning.
In 2006, she released her well anticipated album Rebelution which featured the hit single These Streets.
Cherine Anderson
Cherine Anderson
Cherine Anderson has matured into a dynamic singer/ songwriter/actress.
Anderson was born in Rockfort in Kingston and continues to raise the bar for herself in every aspect of her life. She attended Middlebury College, graduating with honours in film and music. At college, her passion and dedication to her craft led to numerous internships at entertainment companies such as MTV Networks, Interscope Records and the Chris Blackwell-owned Palm Pictures and Palm Records.
She has written and recorded with respected producers and musicians including Sly & Robbie, Sting, Wyclef Jean, Bootsy Collins and Jimmy Cliff. Her single Good Love has hit the airwaves across the island, in the United States, Canada and several European countries. Soon after her release, she made a duet with Chuck Fenda that quickly topped both the singles and the video charts locally. Her latest release is Kingston State of Mind, her perspective on the realities of the environment in Kingston.
Q: What's the average cost of your wardrobe for a performance such as Sumfest, including hair and make-up?
CA: Cost is never the main factor for me. To make a great presentation for the audience requires an investment, but I do approach it in a responsible manner.
Q:. Have you encountered any difficulties in the music industry just because you're a woman?
CA: I cannot say that I have encountered any difficulties solely because I am a woman. This business is just challenging, every day brings its own problems. I think if you make good music and surround yourself with the 'right' team, who will help you develop you will have just about the same chance as any male singer in this business.
Q: If you did not choose a career in music, what would you be doing?
CA: I would be acting and I am already doing that. I just think I was destined to have a career in entertainment.
Q: What was the one item you wanted and was able to buy when got your first big cheque?
CA: In all honesty, I am still working to make that possible someday. The truth is that the business is not easy and you have to work hard every day. However, I do it for the love of it and I trust that the rewards will follow. Until then, I am just working to entertain the people.
Etana
Etana - Contributed photos
Etana is labelled as one of the budding new sounds in roots reggae with an element of social commentary. Her music is very soulful. She has made strides in a largely dominated male industry with her debut single, Wrong Address.
The young, spirited and soulful singer/songwriter has a unique and expressive sound. She was once part of a group called Gift in the United States but it was when she returned to Jamaica that her life-long dream was realised. She immediately became Richie Spice's backing vocalist with Fifth Element Records. In the next 15 months, she will be performing in Europe, North America and independently in Africa. Her new release, Money has proved to be a radio-friendly hit.
Q: What's the average cost of your wardrobe for a performance such as Sumfest, including hair and make-up?
E: My wardrobe does not cost that much because my aunt, Joy Francis, makes my clothes. I do my own make-up and I wear a wrap on my head, it is my new thing.
Q: Have you encountered any difficulties in the music industry just because you're a woman?
E: Yes, sometimes during rehearsals I have to deal with men who do not listen, sometimes it is just a power struggle.
Q: If you did not choose a career in music, what would you be doing?
E: I would be doing mass communications or be a nurse or doctor.
Q: What was the one item you wanted and was able to buy when got your first big cheque?
E: I went out and purchased furniture for the entire house. I furnished my bedroom with a king-sized bed, furnished my son's room as well as the living, and dining room.
- Keisha Shakespeare Blackmore
Tessanne Chin
Tessanne - Contributed
Rock is in her blood, but so is soul, reggae, punk and let's just say the list goes on.
It's a vivid example of why Tessanne Chin's musical style is what it is today. Some of the 22-year-old songstress' influences are: Skunk, Pat Benatar, Diana King, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Bob Marley and Mahalia Jackson.
Her hit single Hide Away, which is still on heavy rotation, showcases perfectly her fusion of dancehall, reggae and rock. She has mainstream Jamaica embracing the style and others attempting to hit her amazingly high notes.
Raised in Kingston, she began work with Cathy Levi's Little People when she was 6.
As former lead singer of the Jamaican rock band Mile High, her electric vocal performances made people take a second look.
Aside from her upcoming performance at Sumfest, she is keeping busy. A new single, Black Books, which has a rock beat but is good for dancing, has been released for the summer.
Flair also asked:
Q: What's the average cost of your wardrobe for a performance like Sumfest, including hair and make-up?
TC: I'm the kind of person who'll go on one shopping spree (for a period) and choose something from that. I hate shopping. I do my own hair, if not, my big sister Terry does it. Juliet Dugall does my make-up. (She preferred not to disclose the price).
Q: Have you encountered any difficulties in the music industry just because you're a woman?
TC: Not really. The only difficulty is my music. Because it's a mixture of different types, it's difficult for people to accept it.
Q: If you did not choose a career in music, what would you be doing?
TC: Something to do with art or animals.
Q: What was the one item you wanted and was able to buy when got your first big cheque?
TC: I bought my TV and my sound system.
- Sacha Walters
LADY SAW
Lady Saw
Marion Hall, more popularly known as Lady Saw, is the queen of dancehall music and hails from the parish of St. Mary. She is the very first female deejay to win a Grammy award, to go triple platinum with a single, to go gold with a single and to headline shows outside of Jamaica. Her voice resonates far beyond the rough ghettos of Jamaica and is undoubtedly the wickedest female deejay to ever rock the mic.
At only 15, she took the name Lady Saw after the famous Tenor Saw whose style she emulated. She was soon signed to VP Records and debuted in 1994 with Lover Girl. Her first big success came in the early '90s, when she injected a heavy dose of sexually explicit lyrics into the music. The results were early hits like If Him Lef and Stab Out.
Lady Saw has done several collaborations with fellow artistes including: Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Ce'cile and Tanya Stephens. In late 2004, she released Striptease after a six-year hiatus. This year she released the Walk Out album that debuted at number two on the Top Reggae Albums Chart.
Lady Saw has three adopted children.
She will bring her explosive talent to Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest's dancehall night Thursday, July 19.
Alison hinds - contributed photos
Gem Myers
