STILL in her 30s, singer Rashida Rose has been in the music business for nearly 20 years. She tells

her story in Prevails, her latest song.

Rose describes the self-produced song as a “personal statement”. It was inspired by her years in an industry still dominated by men, but despite the challenges she soldiers on.

“This song is telling people that I’m strong and not willing to compromise my standards. At the same time I’m not conventional, I’m willing to try different things,” she said.

Rose started her recording career in the mid-1990s shortly after leaving Vauxhall High School. She has recorded with several producers but in recent years has directed herself in the studio on songs like Freedom Is Here, It’s Just Your Heart and a cover of Marley’s No Woman No Cry.

According to Rose, she is more comfortable producing her songs.

“It’s not my intention to do everything on my own but I find that a lot of the times other producers want to go in a different direction. I have more freedom when I do things myself,” she explained.

One of the east Kingston-raised Rose’s first songs was a cover of the Isley Brothers quiet storm classic, For The Love of You. She did the studio rounds, working not only as an artiste but as a graphic designer, website designer and publicist for artistes such as Christopher Martin, Vybz Kartel and Tommy Lee.

Rose admits that things have not worked out the way she planned in terms of her career as an artiste. Nine years ago, she decided to project her multi-tasking abilities by establishing Muss Buss Project, a company that offers voice training and grooming, among other services, for aspiring artistes.

For now, Rose is concentrating on promoting Prevails which she says also defines her outlook on life.

“I refuse to do what others want and stay in a little box. No one should limit themselves,” she said.