The 1980s may be considered the golden age of the female deejay. It saw the emergence of heavyweights like Sister Nancy and Lady G and hard core acts such as Wendy Culture.

The latter is still recording, as Warrior Queen. A change in musical direction influenced her new moniker.

“One time, the lyrical content was gun thing, now it’s more culture, so mi jus’ decide to change mi name,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Her latest song, Killer, is done with German dance duo Schlachthofbronx. The techno song was released during the summer and hears Warrior Queen moving into different, though not unfamiliar territory.

Moving to England in 2000 introduced Warrior Queen to the eclectic London music scene and helped her develop an appreciation for the techno sounds of grime and house.

“Is something I’m used to. When I lived in England I did some drum and bass, grime and house music. Is something I like,” she said.

From Spanish Town in St Catherine Warrior Queen was raised in May Pen, where she was introduced to the dancehall scene through attending dances featuring sound systems like the ‘home-grown’ Bodyguard, Spinner’s Choice and King Jammys.

She kicked off her recording career in 1989 with Outrageous, a song produced by Philip “Fattis” Burrell. This was followed by Nuh Fi Bright for brothers Tony and Dave Kelly and Wheeling Don, done for Steely and Clevie.

— Howard Campbell