NORWEGIAN-born, Jamaica-based reggae singer Orisha Sound has teamed up with producer/musician Sheldon ‘Shel-K’ Williams to form a duo.

Shel-K is producer behind Embrace It (Orisha Sound featuring Sizzla); World War Three (Orisha Sound featuring Beenie Man); and Life Machine by Droop Lion. The two recently returned from a six-month tour of Europe where they made stops in the United Kingdom, Russia, Georgia and Belarus.

“It was a very rewarding experience as we gained a lot of new fans and spread reggae music to different countries in Europe. It was very cold so a lot of the venues were indoors, mostly clubs but we got a full house and we also used the opportunity to do a lot of interviews and so on,” said Shel-K.

The producer said they joined forces as they have been working successfully together for years and he knew that their combination could make musical magic.

“We do all our projects ourselves. We are really a powerhouse act. From CD covers, photos, music videos…we do them all. I am also adding the Jamaican flavour to the table as Orisha is not Jamaican; so when both of us combine, the sound is great,” he said.

Orisha Sound believes it’s a winning formula.

“Whenever we go in a show, we always pick up the fliers and email the organisers of the event. Whenever we do the job ourselves, it is much better as we are the ones on the road and doing the performances, so we know exactly what a particular audience want,” she explained.

Born Orisha Pelzer in Oslo, Norway, Orisha is of Russian and Brazilian parentage. Trained in the classics, she plays a number of instruments and has toured Europe and the United States as a singer, musician, and dancer.

Shel K was born in St Thomas but later relocated to Kingston.

“Music was always around me growing up as my father, Ephraim, is a kumina player and my brother Putus Roots is the lead singer of Mystic Revelation band,” he said.

He met Orisha Sound in January 2013 and the two began working days later.

They are promoting singles Stakka and Title, a collaboration with South African singer Spice Diana.

— Simone Morgan-Lindo