Born to musical parents from St Vincent and the United States, roots singer Tuff Like Iron says her influences “from day one” came from Jamaica. It is also where she began recording five years ago, and launched her debut album last week.

Ironic is the title of the 17-song set which she introduced at Stone’s Throw in St Andrew on September 25. Tuff Like Iron did a live set backed by veteran musicians, including guitarist Winston “Bo Pee” Bowen and bassist Wormbass.

“It was crucial to launch this project here in Jamaica because it is the birthplace of reggae music. After soaking up so much energy in Jamaica from the countless amazing musical icons I have encountered here since I was a youth, it was magnetic,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Distributed by Tuff Gong International, Ironic is produced by Jah Ova Evil Records, a company that works with a number of neo-roots artistes including The Gideon, Micah Shemaiah and Infinite.

The lead single I’m Talking to You, Almighty One and System Going Down cover age-old roots themes like Rasta resilience and an oppressive political system. Ganja, another standard reggae topic, gets plenty of play on songs like Orange Peel.

Global legalisation has made ganja a global buzzword in the last five years. But Tuff Like Iron points out that the Rasta community championed the plant’s versatility long before legislators, politicians and scientists jumped on the bandwagon.

“Yes, weed songs indeed… And more to come! We love the herb and we will never stop use and defend it,” she said. “It cures so many diseases and these days pop music promotes heavy prescription drug use, which can really mash up people life. We don’t use Molly…We be smoking like Bob Marley.”

Tuff Like Iron was born Kendra Scanlon in New York City. Though he was born in St Vincent, her father grew up in Trinidad where he learned to play the drums and steel pan, while her New York-reared mother was a big punk rocker and reggae fan.

She recalls first visiting Jamaica at age eight, and discovered reggae through Bob Marley, Hugh Mundell, Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, Marcia Griffiths and Aswad. Tuff Like Iron also admired Nigerian Afro-beat king Fela Kuti and hip hop, which was the dominant sound in the Big Apple when she was a teen.

Five years ago she came to Jamaica for sessions with Jah Ova Evil that yielded songs including I’m Talking to You. She developed a friendship with the label’s principals as well as acts like Jah9, one of the forerunners of the much-touted roots revival.

Ironic is distributed by Tuff Gong International.