International recording artiste Etana has released her latest album, Nectar of the Gods.

The project, which tackles hot-button social issues like suicide, love, spirituality and faith, was released on Friday, July 26 and is one Etana says she wants to use to “empower and renew.”

“I started working on the Nectar of the Gods in 2022. I never had the name or a particular direction in mind. I just knew that I wanted to create more music that will last forever,” Etana said.

Nectar is regarded as the divine drink consumed by the Olympian gods in ancient folklore. It had the magical property to confer immortality on any mortal who had the luck to drink it. Similarly, Etana wants anyone who listens to the album to be re-energised and tap into their own divine powers within.

“Music has the power to renew and empower, that is what I want to do with this album,” the Grammy-nominated singer said.

Considered by music insiders to be one of her most mature albums, Nectar of the Gods is now available on all online platforms.

Etana released the first single from the project, ‘Don’t Give Up’, a few weeks ago before dropping a follow-up song, ‘Grateful.’ The singer says she is particularly proud of ‘Don’t Give Up’ which acts as a salve to young women facing hardship, struggles and enduring abuse.

“I wrote ‘Don’t Give Up’ to remind those who may consider suicide that life is worth living. I read in the news of a teenage girl found hanging in Jamaica, and too often I hear of people taking their own lives due to different circumstances,” she said.

The ‘Strong One’ believes that there is a link between female teenage suicides and sexual abuse and incest.

“I don’t believe all the reported female teenage suicides are just open-and-shut suicides because sometimes it is abuse that triggers this sort of desperation.  I do know that our culture includes an elephant in the room and that is incest and child rape that is sometimes covered up by family members to avoid “family shame”,” she said.

Standout collaborations on the album include ‘Jah Never Fail’ featuring Big Youth, ‘Set Up Yourself’ featuring Shatta Wale and ‘Inna de Ghetto’ with Bugle. She shows off her seductive side with ‘Vibration’ featuring Randy Valentine.

As she cranks up promotion of her Nectar of the Gods album, Etana is slated to shoot a video for the second single, Grateful in the near future.

“I am truly grateful for life and the ability to write as I do and sing like I do and reach hearts and souls through the music created. Regardless of the circumstances, life has infinite possibilities and life can change in an instant one just has to never forget to imagine.” ‎

Etana also recorded an ‘Etana Live in Nairobi’ album, recorded at the Pamoja Festival held last month in Kenya, which includes 23 songs with over 2 hours and 4 minutes of non-stop performances.