Jamaican roots-reggae singer Etana became just the third female Jamaican artist ever and the first since the 1990s to have the No. 1 album on U.S. music magazine Billboard’s Reggae Album chart. This was made possible with her fourth studio album, I Rise, which was released on October 28. With it, Etana is the first Jamaican woman to top Billboard’s Reggae Album chart since era of Patra and Diana King in the mid‘90s.
Etana is currently on tour in the U.S. with dancehall veteran Cocoa Tea in support of I Rise. Backed by a full band, Etana will celebrate this success and perform tracks from her brand new album at her NYC release party at SOBs on Monday, November 17, 2014.
As reported by Red Carpet Shelley, I Rise, which is helmed by the legendary Jamaican multi-instrumentalist and producer Clive Hunt, follows Etana’s critically-acclaimed albums Better Tomorrow (2013), Free Expressions (2011) and The Strong One (2008). The Jamaican singer-songwriter’s melodic power blended with Hunt’s rich arrangements sets this album apart as one of the best throughout her stellar career. Etana carries the torch as reggae’s leading lady with this classic collection of love ballads and roots anthems.
With her poised assurance and newfound strength, she evolves spiritually, mentally, emotionally and musically. Whether she shedding light on the harsh ghetto realities on “Trigger,” “Ward 21 (Stenna’s Song)” and “How Long,” conveying romantic longings on “Richest Girl,” “Love Song,” and “By Your Side” or expressing her deep-rooted spirituality on the exquisite Bob Marley remake of “Selassie Is The Chapel,” the Marcia Griffith’s cover of “Stepping Out Of Babylon” “Emancipation” and “On My Way” – each of the album’s tracks is delivered with her soulful conviction. Producer Clive Hunt (Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, Rolling Stones, The Wailers, Grace Jones, Jimmy Cliff) arranged an all-star team of the island’s musicians to contribute to the set – including himself, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Grub Cooper, Handel Tucker, and Dean Fraser.
Watch the video for her new single, ‘Richest Girl,’ is below.
