ON Saturday, July 5, dozens of guests gathered at the Bushbar located on the property of the Geejam Hotel in Portland, to experience the performance of fast-rising dancehall artiste Nordia ‘Coco’ Witter.

Also celebrating her birthday, the singer made a smashing appearance dressed in knee-high black Christian Louboutin gold-studded boots, blue River Island jeans, and a black Michael Kors top decorated with gold studs.

Backed by the Yawd Movement Band, Witter thrilled her guests with songs like Nice and Slow, B Rida, One More Chance, Ole Skool Love, and Wuk Di Money — a single she is currently promoting.

“Wuk Di Money is from an old-time Jamaican catchphrase and it’s going to be one of the big hits in the local dancehall scene, and hopefully will cross over into international markets,” she stated.

According to Coco, the tracks have influences from R&B, reggae, to harder electronic dance, and she show off her range and versatility.

“My music is fun and high-energy. I don’t want to categorise myself into a genre as I have so many musical influences, particularly from the 80s and 90’s icons such as Grace Jones, Diana King and Bob Marley. I am experimenting with different sounds and I like dancehall fusion” a soft-spoken Coco told Splash

Witter was born in Kingston and grew up in Stony Hill, St Andrew. A past student of Oberlin High School, the singer said she developed a passion for the arts at a tender age.

“I remember after leaving school in the afternoon I would buy myself a Whitney or Mariah Carey CD and I would just sing along to the tunes. I was very sheltered and shy, though, which I still am, so I would hardly ever perform for an audience,” she stated.

While attending Edna Manley College the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew, Witter worked as a model and has walked runways in The Bahamas, St Lucia, Barbados and Martinique. She has appeared in films such as Shottas and One Love. In 2004, she released her debut single I Am Alone Tonight. This was followed by Nice and Slow and Crazy.

According to Coco, being the wife of music executive and Geejam’s CEO Jon Baker does not make her work any easier.

“My association with Geejam doesn’t give me an advantage, as I have to work as hard as any other artistes. I have to prove to everyone that I have what it takes. I didn’t want anyone to think that I was using Geejam to get that break, so I took myself out of there and rebranded myself,” she said.

Coco has high praises for her musical mentor Prodi (the former gospel act Prodigal Son).

“I have a fantastic team who bring out the best in me. I feel like I am in a good place. I have learned a lot from Prodigal, which has been an eye-opener to me,” she stated.

— Simone Morgan