Nadine Sutherland claims 9 out of 10
...feels ‘sweet’ about national honour
Renowned Jamaican singer Nadine Sutherland had several reasons to be celebrating on Monday having been vested with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer by the Government of Jamaica, as well as releasing a new track titled 9 out of 10.
The entertainer, who is celebrating her sapphire anniversary in music, was more than thrilled.
“Having this honorary accolade means a lot to me. It means that the amount of work that I’ve done over the years was recognised, and it gives you some degree of validation. Mi nah guh seh I am humbled, mi aguh tell yuh seh mi feel sweet,” she told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.
Her career started at the tail of roots-reggae, with her initial songs, Young One Like Me and Starvation on The Land, produced and distributed by Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong label.
She added that her dominance in music is owed to an organic connection she has with the art form.
“Forty-five years in the music industry that is male dominated, I don’t think there was any recipe; I don’t think that I thought about it. I always say that music chose me… There were so many times that I felt like it was over, and I did things to ensure that my future would be bright, like going and getting a master’s [degree]. I said to myself, ‘When it’s over, I have to live nice.’ But, there’s nothing I can say was the recipe to ensure that I did it for longevity or anything like that. I can say it’s God, and that music chose me,” Sutherland said.
In the 1990s Sutherland had sizable hit songs with Baby Face, Action (alongside Terror Fabulous), and Wicked Dickie (with Buju Banton).
She is also a prolific harmony singer, whose vocals appear on songs by Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, and John Holt.
As it relates to her latest track, produced by Steven “Lenky” Marsden and distributed via VPAL music, has an accompanying music video dedicated to Tommy Cowan and Carlene Davis.
The song “ 9 out of 10 speaks to going through different aspects of a relationship and deciding that you’ve made a commitment and you’re going to stick it through”, she shared.
