SINGER Teri had no butterflies in the stomach when she recorded her first song in 2006 at what was then Shaggy’s Big Yard studio.

All she wanted was a hit song — a big one.

She believes her latest song, Breathless Kiss, is her best opportunity to date of achieving this. The single is produced by Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor.

“It’s really taken off, and is getting airplay worldwide (Jamaica, London, Toronto, the United States, Ghana and Europe). We are also working on promoting the single to the Japanese market,” she told Splash. “It’s already led to approaches from other producers for collaborations.”

Teri (Nadia Terricia Lindsay) grew up in Kingston but moved to London in 2008. Five years later, she relocated to Toronto from where she made the link with McGregor, who has produced a number of hit songs including Gyptian’s Serious Times and I am Not Afraid by Etana.

“The connection came about through my manager Maxine Tomlinson. She sent him some of my tracks and he was impressed and called us from Jamaica,” Teri recalled. “This resulted in Flava sending me a number of rhythms and I fell in love with the rhythm for Breathless Kiss instantaneously.”

Breathless Kiss is Teri’s most expectant effort since she began recording in 2006.

Her first song, Give Me What I Need, was recorded for Shaggy’s Big Yard label. She has also worked with producers Clive Hunt and Sly and Robbie.

Teri points to a diverse list of artistes as influences, led by the durable Marcia Griffiths, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Reba McIntyre, Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Adele.

However, being labeled is something she stays clear of.

“I would describe my genre as ‘unspecific’ as my style is built upon an array of different musical styles. For this reason, it is difficult to define me or to put me in a box; I

am, quite simply, a lover of music,” she said.

— Howard Campbell