Sajay's no newcomer

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

THERE have not been many producers in reggae/dancehall, even though some of the ladies in contemporary Jamaican music have made significant strides to take creative control of their work.

Singjay Samantha Johnson, known in music circles as Sajay, is among this emerging class of independent artistes. The 26-year-old has been in the music business for 10 years, splitting her time as artiste and producer.

She not only co-produced her latest song, Wi Nuh Newcomer, but provided funding for the music video which was recently released by Hot Sound Productions, a Portmore company-run by producer Kirk Kirkland.

"I concentrate most on being an artiste but I've been around the business for so long I've learned a lot. Knowing how to make 'riddims' and the business side of things is also important," Sajay told the Observer.

Wi Nuh Newcomer is a comeback of sorts for the Manchester-reared Sajay who had taken a break from music to work with a leading retail store. The song was released 10 yeas after she cut her first record, Crime Rate, for Hands And Heart Productions.

That company, now defunct, was co-managed by Sajay and a former business

partner. It produced two relatively successful beats in Rasta Run The World and In The Storm which were driven by songs from leading dancehall acts like Bounty Killer, Sizzla and Spragga Benz.

Sajay did songs on the Rasta Run The World (Red Hot) and In The Storm (Caan Done), both of which were released on compilation albums by British companies Greensleeves and Jet Star Records, respectively.

While Sonia Pottinger is one of reggae's most successful producers, not many women have followed her path into production and distribution. Lay Saw, Macka Diamond and Lady G all have labels and have produced songs.

As part of her new enterprise, Sajay launched Crab Up Management to produce and promote upcoming artistes. She performed and produced Weed and Sly, the company's debut song.