Singer Tessanne addresses the audience at the launch of her new video, Hideaway, at the Terra Nova on Wednesday night, standing before a life-size still extract from the shoot.

We're not sure if it's emotional telepathy from the political sphere, but it just appears that a significant number of Jamaican women artistes are stepping up and staking their place in the ultra-competitive music business.

The group featured in the following pages is notably diverse in terms of musical and socio-economic background as well as length of tenure. But these female acts (and one female impresario) have in common a certain resilience and a resolve not to come off as stereotypical: indeed, they really wish to be viewed (and heard) as artistes, rather than mere female artistes.

Tessanne emerges with Hideaway

EBONY... The trio, who separated in 2000 to evaluate themselves and to look at where the group was going, believes the time is again right for them to reunite

It's the age-old paradox, or dichotomy: shy, almost retiring individual in non-performing situations (like addressing an audience at your own video launch) becomes tigress on satage (or screen).

So it was at the Terra Nova on Wednesday night as singer Tessanne presented her video, Hideaway, to a gathering of family, friends and media - the tent arranged 'cinema style' with a life-size image of the singer focusing a steely gaze on those present.

Directed by Delano Forbes, produced by Shannon Hart, with technical inputs from the Phase Three team, the video shows the multiple faces of the fast-rising artiste, following her from day to night, and from field and tropical paradise to recording studio. "I'm really a shy person generally," Tessanne said in her 'remarks'. "But on stage, I'm just at home, there's no other way to explain it." This followed by a well-placed growl conveyed all that was needed to understand the disparity.

The action in the video also matches the song's time shifts from reggae-pop ballad to thumping, rock-edged dancehall ditty with some engaging shots of the singer and her crackerjack band.

Nadine Sutherland

As entertaining as the new clip was, a brief video presentation with testimonials from the aforementioned band members as well as sister Tami, Mom and Dad, and Tessanne herself, complete with old photos and other highlights, all assembled under the theme that it was impossible to box the artiste in.

As befitting her own style, and vocal prowess, the video achieves a nice balance between effects and more conventional stroytelling, possessing both an up-to-the-moment as well as a 'throwback' feel.

The Hideaway video will have its television premiere on tonight's Entertainment Report on TVJ.

Kris Kelli

Tanya Stephens' Rebel Music

Some people, it seems, are born to challenge orthodoxy - whether it surfaces in religious, sexual or social matters.
Bob Marley, she's clearly not (more like Peter Tosh when one considers), but Tanya Stephens has been bringing her own brand to the music scene, whether its challenging complacent women (To The Rescue, You Still Lose) or the long-running anti-gay sentiment in dancehall lyrics (Do You Care). It all comes to the fore brilliantly on her latest disc, the aptly titled Rebelution which has already secured its place among the best Jamaican records released this year.

But as Stephens intimates to us on an overcast day on the terrace of What's on Cafe at Devon House, where Splash caught up with her, Rebelution is more than just an attention-getter, it's a personal manifesto.

"Anything I say is that I live, so I don't really have to hide behind anything, or apologise or even regret anything," she states.

Indeed, that's been her credo since she first charged into the consciousness of local audiences with the saucy Yu Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet, which exploded the 'big chat' of the marathon lover ethic expounded on by dancehall's dominant males.

Since then, she's simultaneously skirted and shot down cliches with snappy writing about infidelity and man-sharing, heartbreak, the 'runnings' on the street and social injustice, (most pointedly on What A Day from her previous disc, Gangsta Blues).

Now, she's focused on the new album, but that doesn't mean she's taken her eye off the state of the industry, and she has some very direct criticisms for both artistes and the members of the Fourth Estate.

Sales, Stephens points out, are the ultimate measure of the artistes worth, representing, as they do, the validation of the public. By that token, she says, multi-platinum toaster Sean Paul is the "real king of the dancehall. The rest of the disputes, she says, is just empty hype.

Stephens insists, though, that there's no issue of selling out. "If you putting out good songs, that make sense and have good production value and the public is responding to that by taking out their money and buying the record then you supposed to get recognise for that. But there are guys who ready to talk about is because is a brown middle-class Jamaican, when in fact a lot of them got every bit as much of a push as Sean in the overseas market, but they havent delivered that level of sales - and they want to complain. I really think many of our artistes whine too much."

Always independent-minded and enterprising, Stephens is pressing ahead on the good base established with Gangsta Blues and is looking at becoming more active on tour going into the end of the year, but the album comes first. "I don't want to just take every show that comes along if it means I can't be available right now to promote this project," she says.

Notably, the CD package also contains a DVD of a recent media presentation and show that Stephens did for press at New York City's famed Knitting Factory (known for its alternative music presentations). In addition to acoustic renditions of These Streets and Do You Care, the session also allowed for discussion of the songs and of her career.

But the artiste says her designs are simple, and even though one suspects there's respect for the accolades, she generally eschews awards. "I get whole heap of awards in this busienss and nuffa dem I don't even carry dem home, cause I really cyaan store dem."

Her focus, as highlighted on Rebelution (and all the preceding discs) is personal growth through her songwriting and performing.

"It's always been my ambition to be the best I can be at what I do, and if I can do that then hey, give me my props."

Back in Black Mobay trio Ebony Reunite

Claudette Miller-Robinson, Patricia Carty-Edwards and Connie Edwards are back together again as Ebony.
The trio, who separated in 2000 to evaluate themselves and to look at where the group was going believe the time is again right for them to reunite.

"We all feel that our mission to sing and woo audiences is not complete. We believe there is so much more to contribute to the music industry so when we met and discussed the idea the decision was unanimous," explains Claudette. "In addition, we are always bombarded with questions from our fans as to when are we planning to hit the stage again and there are so many who constantly encourage us so the decision wasn't a difficult one," echoed Connie.

Fans and friends of the group joined media at a recent press party at the Hilton Kingston to announce the regrouping. One of the featured performer, A'lisa, gave an impressive rendition of Whitney Houston's hit Try It On My Own. The Ebony ladies performed their new single, the appropriately named Reunited, to a thunderous applause from an appreciative audience.

MC Norma Brown-Bell, a big fan of the group, reminisced about their exciting stage performances in former years.
Fans will get a chance to see them live at their Reunion show on October 15 inside the same venue. The show, billed Back Together Again, will feature such acts as Dance Theatre Xpressionz, A'Lisa, Gem Myers, Benji Myaz and Karen Smith. Additionally, there will be a fashion feature which will showcase Uzuri International, Barry Moncrieffe and men's wear designer Pablo Palair.

The three ladies, who sang together for two decades, have performed with top international artistes such as Freddie Jackson, The Manhattans, Ben E King, Jeffrey Osbourne, James Ingram, Freddie Jackson, Gladys Knight, Regina Belle and New Edition.

The ladies have done promotional work in the USA, UK and the Caribbean. Their first album, titled Ebony, is currently being promoted and features mainly original material.

Nadine Sutherland These days, Jamaican songbird Nadine Sutherland is a very busy woman. She has a sizzling music video for her latest single Keep Me Safe and returns as the 'nice judge' on one of the most-watched television shows in Jamaica's history, Digicel's Rising Stars - now approaching the end of its third season. Observer staff writer Tyrone S Reid spoke with the singer-songwriter by telephone as she was hard at work at a studio in Florida, putting finishing touches to her new recording.

Splash :Rising Stars is by far the hottest television show in Jamaica right now, and you have been a part of it since the pilot season. What has the experience been like?

NS : To be honest, it has been very exciting and rewarding on so many levels because, for one, I feel like my years of being an entertainer are being used in a very constructive way. It is also exciting to see the reaction of the people towards the show. They get so very attached to it every week. (Laughs).

Splash : In your opinion, how has the contest grown since its inception and what do you think is its role in society today?

NS : I believe Rising Stars is now in the psyche of the Jamaican people. It has grown to a very high level beyond my expectations. The committee has looked at the mistakes of the previous years to make the competition better and it keeps getting better. I wish that after the contest, the competitors will each write a number one song because they really work hard. The competition is emotionally taxing. In terms of the role of Rising Stars , I would say that the competition helps to expose new Jamaican talents in a very entertaining way. It is also about providing a leaping pad for good talent. Rising Stars is also a family programme. Everyone watches the show from a granny to a shotta.

Splash : One of the many complains we've heard is that the contest is 'too harsh'. How do you address that?

NS : Yes, people complain that the contest is harsh, but that is the real world! Nothing comes easily.

Splash : You are now hard at work completing your new album. When can we expect it and what does it bring to the table?

NS : There is no date set for its release yet, but hopefully it will be out later this year or early next year. It is in the making. It will expose different sides of me and really show who I am. I am just a Jamaican expressing myself and my album will reflect that in a very unique and individual way.

Splash : How important was it for you to head back into the studio to do another album?

NS : Well, I never really left the music scene to begin with. I've been recording, but it is just that the songs were not getting the level of exposure they deserve. I am always a musician, no matter what. I was born for this and there is nothing I love more than doing music.

Splash : People say your sound and your style has changed since your last release? Do you think so?

NS : I would say it [my sound] has extended. I am now more confident to show every side of me through my music, instead of being pigeon-holed. I grew up doing music and I will not allow anyone to define who I am. If I want to do the dutty wine, I will do it.

Splash : How would you encourage youngsters who want to pursue their musical dreams?

NS : I would let them know, first of all, that the music world is not about comfort; there is a lot of hard work to be done. People have this idealistic notion of what the music world is about, but you have to realise that if you really want to pursue your dreams you have to be ready to face the frustration and the hard times and that's what being an artiste is all about.

Splash : So what have you been doing apart from recording and judging on Rising Stars ?

NS : I write occasionally and I am also working on my website. I am kept very busy.

Splash : What are some of your other interests?

NS : I love working out at the gym. I am challenging myself to become as fit as Asafa Powell and develop the stamina of a long distance runner. (Laughs). I also love dancing and I am now in the process of being recertified as an aerobics instructor.

Splash : Name three things you can't leave home without.
NS : My lipstick and lip gloss, my big handbag that everything goes into and my house key (Laughs).

Splash : Have we seen the best of Nadine Sutherland or is the best yet to come?

NS : The best is yet to come but I am happy that I am still able to intrigue people. The best thing I have learnt in my life is to allow God to lead you and don't let anything define you.

Diana Rutherford-Shining Time

In the music business more than any other, timing is everything.

Everyone remembers the tall, fresh-faced young woman who thrilled audiences as part of the initial Digicel Rising Stars competition in 2004.

The talent goes back even further. As young as nine years of age, Diana thrilled small audiences with her melodic voice at barbeques, birthday parties and weddings. Some ten years prior to her introduction to national TV audiences, Rutherford had in fact entered and won the Tastee Talent contest (which famously birthed the careers of Yellow Man and Beenie Man), and also had the distinction of being the youngest ever to win the competition up to this date.

Further exposure via a number of different shows brought her to the attention first, of Tommy Cowan, for whom she recorded her first single, Children in the Ghetto and had that classic artiste experience of hearing her song on the radio for the first time.

Subsequently, under X-terminator Productions banner of Phillip 'Fattis' Burrell, she released songs such as Missing You and First Night.

Then came Rising Stars, which she describes as a terrific experience. When asked if she wished she had waited to enter, giving the competition's growing status, she has no regrets. "Somebody has to be there at the beginning and it's good to see the show growing to where it is and knowing that I was apart of the very first one."

Of the post-competition period, and her sojourn at the Geejam Recording studio in Port Antonio, she is less sanguine. There, she released a single Its Official and did a recording of the Jamaica Tourist Board theme adaptation of Marley's One Love for the Board's New York-based marketing company.

But, she grew weary of what she considered the slow pace of her recording career at this point.
"It just seemed like nothing was really happening after such a long time," she said.

One good thing did come out of the experience, however. A relationship struck up with visiting French producer Sherkhan, initially professional, turned personal: the two subsequently became husband and wife and are continuing their recording collaboration under the Tiger records banner.
Rutherford has been busy writing, recording and producing, but there are no plans in the short term for an album.

"I'm just getting people familiar again with who I am, I want to put out some good singles and one will blow up enough to attract the kind of attention that we're looking for."
There's still some room in the musical firmament, it appears, for Diana Rutherford.

Kris Kelli - 3 years, several months, umpteen hours......
After roughly two years of "learning the business" as she puts it, Kris Kelli decided it was time to focus on her debut album.

Some 18 months later, the leggy singer has logged some serious hours of writing, recording and working with a number of top producers to come up with My World, her first full-length musical statement.

The 15-track disc includes one collaboration each with Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel. The album represents various genres of reggae music and, in her words "captures my journey and my versatility."

The Far East will get the first taste of Kelli's World, come September 20, with the Japanese release, via Pony Canyon records, with the home and other markets no doubt following soon thereafter.

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Executive Class

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Death to the Mullet!