The ManicaPost
ONCE in a great while, the world is afforded with a powerful, soulful and unique voice of the people. The ever-so-talented songstress Etana “The Strong One” has emerged as this entity, representing one of Reggae music’s newest faces.
Boasting a flawless soul-soaked voice, in just a few years, Etana has captivated and inspired legions of die hard fans. In addition to wooing listeners with her rich honey-laced vocals, Etana also proudly dons the hat of songwriter. The singer has boldly struck a chord with the masses, winning the hearts of the people one song at a time.
Etana’s craft of developing Reggae music masterpieces spans beyond just a means of entertainment. Consistently, Etana addresses pressing issues in her music. And just like the “The Strong One” translation of her name, Etana’s messages are a force to be reckoned with. Crooning of oppression and injustices against all people, Etana never fails to motivate and inspire her audience. Although Etana’s music is often billed as “Roots Reggae,” her style undeniably transcends music genre and is also infused with hints of Jazz and R&B.
Born Shauna McKenzie in August Town, Jamaica, Etana shined as the only girl amongst a mostly male family. From early on, Etana thrived for making music. Attending school in Jamaica until roughly 1992 and moving to Florida, education was always of great importance to the songstress.
While attending college to pursue a Nursing Degree “The Strong One’s” passion for music peaked. She was especially interested in an innovative blend of music genre that she grew up on. Etana credits a wealth of artists for influencing her love of music, ranging from Reggae stars Bob Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Sizzla Kalonji to R&B crooners like Whitney Houston, Lauren Hill and Jill Scott, among others.
Before her solo debut, Etana took on many gigs. She landed a slot in the girl group “GIFT,” which was a brainchild of Universal Records. As fate had it, Etana did not enjoy dressing in provocative attire to fit the direction of the ”GIFT” or better yet every girl group in the new millennium. And because of this, after putting in a little time, Etana walked away from music completely and returned to Jamaica to open a business.
But mMusic was still Etana’s calling, she landed a stint as a backup singer for Richie Spice In 2005, she landed a stint as a backup singer for Richie Spice. Aafter mesmerizing the Fifth Element crew with her explosive vocals.
However, that started as providing background vocals to Richie Spice on a single just one show in Los Angeles, propelled Etana with an opportunity ofresulted in a year of performing with the artist for 1 steady year. As things progressed, each Every time Etana looked up, a ticket to travel with Spice awaited her.
Etana thoroughly enjoyed her time on tour with Richie Spice. ”I really loved the energy of Richie and the band,” says Etana. Fatefully, Etana started to create a buzz as a background vocalist — so much so that 5th Element management encouraged Etana to make a solo record. It took a while but eventually Etana recorded two songs: “Time” and “Wrong Address.”
Etana’s quest as a solo artist crafting positive music was fueled by a young girl who recited lyrics from one of her more racy songs. Embarrassed by this, Etana firmly believed that if she could sing a song with good lyrics, she could utilize that very same energy to create music to uplift, educate and strengthen.
From that point on, Etana embarked on her journey as a solo artist — determined to make music her way. Since then she has never looked back.
For contributions on reggae/dancehall music and latest news contact Ras Libz Kartel on 0773 219 891 or [email protected]
