Danette Mahabeer-Turner features daughter in new song
While bonding with her daughter over a project, Danette Mahabeer-Turner was overwhelmed by a photo of one of nature’s most gentle species. It inspired her to write and record Caterpillar To A Butterfly, a song featuring her seven year-old daughter Soheila London and rapper Sir Duke.
Produced by MBMG The Studio, Caterpillar To A Butterfly was released in March, weeks after Mahabeer-Turner’s epiphany.
“In January, I was creating my 2024 Vision Board which was like a mother-daughter experience for Soheila London and I. While cutting out images and words from various magazines in my living room, I saw a picture of a butterfly and decided to add it to my vision board. I have selected four words of the year: Evolve, Manifest, Elevate, and Transformation. So, the butterfly represented transformation for me. While gluing it to my vision board, I found myself singing what is now the hook and chorus of the song and loved the way it sounded,” Mahabeer-Turner told Observer Online.
The pre-recorded track’s “simple and catchy” lines caught the ears of her daughter who “was constantly singing it”. The Paducah, Kentucky-based Mahabeer-Turner recorded a draft on her phone and cut the song in February.
Like the conception process its title acknowledges, she said doing a song with her child was fulfilling.
“It was a life-changing moment for both of us. I wanted her to be a part of it and it made her so excited. We had fun and to my surprise she nailed it the very first time she hit the recording booth,” said the Clarendon-born singjay.
Mahabeer-Turner started her music career 12 years ago as Lady Genius. Her songs include a reggae take on Alicia Keys’ No One, and she also appeared on shows such as the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.
She gave up on the music business after suffering years of domestic abuse. Since moving to the United States, Mahabeer-Turner has been involved in community work, which includes advising women who have endured similar challenges.
In March, she was recognised by the Paducah chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) with its Rosa Parks Power of One Award for community service.
