For many in the music business, Marie ‘Twiggi’ Gitten has been a go-to backing vocalists.

These days, she maintains a busy recording schedule in the gospel and secular fields.

The pencil-slim singer is also determined to help her ‘sisters’ in the music business get a better deal.

“Especially the hardworking ones who keep it real and clean. Not putting down anyone’s work, but it has been a battle for us as females in the business. Too much politics!” she said.

Twiggi embraced religion three years ago and says Christianity has helped her take on the challenges of the music business.

“The journey since I re-affirmed my faith has not been without obstacles. I’ve been placed into a box by people in the industry,” she said without giving details.

Twiggi, who is now in her early 40s, has been performing since age five. She began her professional music career in 1989 after a successful audition for singer Tinga Stewart, doing background vocals on one of his songs.

She soon caught the attention of producers like Boris Gardener and Ruddy Thomas and later Donovan Germain whose Penthouse Records she joined in 1993.

Twiggi’s harmonies can be heard on songs by Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Beres Hammond, Garnet Silk and Buju Banton.

Some of her own recordings include It’s Too Late, Where Did The Love Go, I Want Your Love and Do Me Baby.

Her debut album, the self-produced The Sun Shines Through, was released three years ago and reflected her embrace of Christianity. Twiggi says she is no hurry to record a follow-up.

“I’m not one who believes in pushing out one album after the other,” she said, adding that she plans to “make all the money” she can from The Sun Shines Through before recording a next album.