The Voice Season 5 winner Tessanne Chin wants to move listeners with positivity through new songs from her debut album, writes Aref OmarTHE highlight of Season 5 of The Voice was definitely the unique contestant Tessanne Chin, from Kingston in Jamaica. Chin, who is of Chinese, Cherokee, English and African descent, blew the judges — as well as viewers — away with her big and soulful singing prowess. It’s no wonder that the 28-year-old emerged as champion of the popular TV singing competition and deservedly so. POST-THE VOICE ALBUM Known for her cute Jamaican accent and an easy going, warm personality, Chin was excited about her upcoming post-Voice international debut album, which is scheduled to be released later this year. “At the moment I’m working with Shaggy, doing some songwriting and producing together,” says Chin during a phone interview from New York, where she is currently recording. She says she’s having the time of her life, working with a long list of amazing people, which include Toby Gad, Diane Warren, Ryan Tedder and Planet VI, consisting of siblings Theron and Timothy Thomas. It’s a work in progress so far and Chin says that she’s looking forward to exploring and experimenting even more. She says: “Some (songs) have an island flavour, some are quite poppy, while others are what you’d expect — that wonderful, big soulful sound.” She’s been making a big impression as well, touring and performing across the US after her win last December. Performances at the Rose Bowl Parade, Shaggy & Friends benefit concert and 9 Mile Music Festival have been big successes but Chin was left speechless when she was invited to perform at the White House early this month as part of their In Performance At The White House series. She sang a moving rendition of Donna Summer’s Last Dance and joined Jill Scott, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monae, and Ariana Grande later for a tribute to Tina Turner, performing her classic version of Proud Mary. “It was such an honour and when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama came to talk to me. I was just gawking the whole time. They were just very sweet, and she hugged me and told me ‘well done’,” says Chin. Another speechless moment was when all four judges — Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera — of The Voice turned their seats around during her blind audition. “It was an absolute dream and I had to constantly remind myself to finish the song!” she says. She later chose Levine as her coach who then led her to victory. “I’m a big fan of his music,” says Chin elaborating on why she chose him. “I love the fact that — with his music and his band’s music — he has so many genres and influences in the mix, from pop, rock and soul to jazz, blues, reggae and dance music,” she adds. Chin explains that coming from a Jamaican background and from reggae music, she wanted somebody who would be able to honour that but to move her forward with different types of music as well. During her blind audition she sang Try by Pink. When asked why she decided not to sing a reggae song, Chin explains that she didn’t want to be labelled as a reggae singer. “You have to understand that I’ve sung reggae songs for a long time. It’s in my blood and nothing will change but I always wanted to be an international singer,” she says. “That’s part of the reason why I joined The Voice as well — I felt that I needed a rebirth, so people would see me not just as the girl who sang reggae but as a singer and vocalist.” Although she is completely capable of singing any song in any genre, she maintains that just singing a song well is far from what she considers effective. “For me the biggest challenge is always in connecting to the song, making it mine and making the listener believe in what I’m singing and feel it,” she says, adding that Levine had given her great advice along those lines. Another challenge was having Levine push her to tackle epic classics during the competition by singing songs from the likes of Bob Marley, Whitney Houston and The Beatles. “I was kind of afraid to tread on sacred ground but he gave me the opportunity to step up to the plate and to do it as Tessanne and I’m really grateful to him for encouraging me to do that,” she says. When asked if superstardom beckons, Chin replies: “As far as I’m concerned I just want to focus on making good music and having the career that I know I can have. “For me it’s not about being a superstar but to be able to do what I love and to share that with fans around the world — if I can do that, then I’m happy.” MUSIC IS HER LIFE Growing up in a musical family (her parents were in a band called The Carnations and her older sister Tami Chynn is also a professional singer), she confesses that music is her life and never thought of doing anything else as her profession. “I need music to function — whether it’s making music, singing or listening to music, I just absolutely love music,” she says. “I never thought about another profession because I never gave myself that option, I kind of knew since I was 5 that this was what I wanted to do.” With the support and encouragement from her parents she persevered in chasing her dreams. She was in the rock band Mile High and toured for three years with Jimmy Cliff as a backup singer before going solo, making a name for herself in Jamaica. She was collaborating with Shaggy previously and it was the Jamaican-American reggae pop rapper who had encouraged her to take part in The Voice. Her win was nonetheless a great feeling and one of solid validation. “Especially after doing it (music) for so long, you start to doubt yourself, so the chair turn and the win later gave me the confidence that I have something special — and that people are rooting for me,” says Chin, who is married to Jamaican radio personality Michael Cuffe. The sunny singer has now become the pride of Jamaica, who rallied behind her during the voting segment of The Voice, which kept her in the running. “I’m just so overwhelmed and I never expected in a million years that this would be a big deal,” she says of the celebratory outpouring of love, pride and excitement that greeted her when she returned to Jamaica after her win. “I think the greatest thing one can write about is love but not just love in terms of love songs or love lost,” she says, when asked about her new material. “And the greatest thing I can do for somebody in terms of writing a song is something that can lift them up,” she adds. Chin explains that a lot of the songs on the new album are songs of love, encouragement, hardship and songs of triumph and victory as well. “I know what it feels like to struggle, and what it feels like to see your hard work pay off,” she says. “So I see myself writing songs like that a lot — inspirational songs.” Source New Str HE is the longstanding bastion of one of the most internationally recognised and cherished musical genres. David Rodigan has been a front-man in the British reggae scene for nearly 40 years. So when the veteran DJ and broadcaster arrived at Southampton’s Orange Rooms the anticipation was electric among revellers of all ages. The bespectacled Rodigan, looking evergreen in his early 60s, developed his love of reggae as a 1960s schoolboy while listening to ska. In 1978 he began DJing on BBC Radio London where he introduced both British and Jamaican artists to the masses. His longstanding Roots Rockers Show gained widespread fame and he now hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 1Xtra. He has also DJ’ed alongside top British, Caribbean and American soundboys to boost his international acclaim. Among his proudest moments was winning the Champion Trophy at World Clash Reset in New York in 2012. At his Southampton gig he received rapturous applause when he asked the crowd “are you ready for the summer?”. One of his delights is his energetic enthusiasm for all styles within the genre ranging from the ska and rocksteady of the 1960s, through to dub, dancehall, raga and modern day reggae renaissance. He took the crowd on a rollercoaster tour through the ages. Tunes ranged from Desmond Dekker to one of the latest dance-floor slammers – Fighter by Cham and Damien Marley. Rodigan declared the hit one of the most played on 1Xtra at the moment. But some of the biggest cheers of the night were for Buffalo Soldier and Is this love by Damien’s father the late, great, Bob Marley. It was a cherished moment to hear how music hailing from far away in the Caribbean can still spread peace and love halfway across the globe. Source Southern Daily Echo: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/music/11113863.REVIEW__David_Rodigan__Orange_Rooms__Southampton/ BIO Members: Ras Bomba [Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals] Pious[Piano, keyboards] Jerom[Drums] Ras Bomba,is one great raggae artiste coming from the Coast of Ghana with authentic roots raggae with melodies that hits the soul.The real life stories in his music makes him connect to audience in ways no other act have ever done. Born Nathan Kuma on 16th November 1972 in Cape Coast. He attended Mfantsipim School and then Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he obtained a Master's Degree in Drawing and Painting. He have an artisctical accomplishments of which music is one dimension. He is a songwriter,singer,guitar player and can also draw and paint as well.Musical influences include:Raggae and Afro music.He enjoys sounds from the continet which connects to the world as one. He is inspired by the Maker,creation, humanity and oneness.The multi talented artiste have performed at the African Unite Concert,Ghana,2006:Alliance francais and also performed and staged shows around West Africa,notably Burkina Faso,Togo and Bennin and Cote D'voire. |