Etana spreads Reggae Forever
Etana has embarked on a five-month international tour dubbed Reggae Forever. She kicked off the trek last Saturday at Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom concert at the National Stadium in Kingston.
According to Etana, the tour will make stops in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Kenya, Sweden and Austria. She spoke with Jamaica Observer’s Splash about her expectations.
“This tour is going to be dynamic! My sound blends roots-reggae with flavours of folk, soul, and jazz. So, my music will have a bit of everything for everyone. The set delivery is going to be fantastic,” she told Splash.
Reggae Forever is also the name of her Grammy-nominated album. Its North America stops will be in New York, Florida, Texas, Colorado and California, with the final gig being the Island Soul Music Fest in Ontario, Canada on August 3.
Dates are still being added to the tour, she disclosed.
Released by Tad’s International Record, Reggae Forever debuted on the Billboard Reggae Chart at number one in April last year and gained a nomination for Best Reggae Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Shaggy and Sting’s 44/876 took the honours.
With the nomination, Etana became the first woman since Sister Carol in 1997, to be considered for that award.
“I’m truly delighted to have made an album independently that was well-received by so many people around the world including music critics and fans. It is wonderful to see so many audiences deeply connect with Reggae Forever,” she said. “Being the first female in 21 years to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category is monumental… I’m a reggae artiste who wants to preserve and grow our music, and to promote love and inspire so that it makes way for endless opportunities for reggae artistes to have. Women in reggae have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go and I intend on breaking as many closed doors and barriers as much as possible,” she continued.
Reggae Forever is Etana’s fifth album. Her previous efforts are The Strong One, I Rise, Free Expressions, and Better Tomorrow.
