It was the winter of 1979 and It’s My House, a feisty dance single from Diana Ross, rocked R&B radio in the United States. Recently, Jamaican singer Mye Laurell covered the song reggae-style.

Her version is produced by Richie Stephens, who encouraged the New York-based artiste to put a Jamaican flavour on the original which was produced and written by the legendary Ashford and Simpson.

Mye Laurell admits she had never heard the Diana Ross track, which is about an independent woman speaking proudly about being in control of her own space.

It’s My House is her second released song in almost 10 years, following a cover of Gregory Isaacs’ Night Nurse.

“Music never left my mind, never left my unfinished things to complete, but at the last QORIHC (Queens Of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies) held in 2024, Gem Myers and I opened the show with Whitney Houston’s The Greatest Love of All, and instantly we knew it was time. Gem Myers was pleasantly surprised,” said Mye Laurell.

Born in Kingston, she is a registered nurse who has lived in New Jersey and New York for many years. She first held the QORIHC in 2016 to salute women in the entertainment/lifestyle industry. Myers, Marcia Griffiths, artist manager and Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, model Althea Laing, along with harmony duo Brick & Lace are some of its honorees.

“Folks knew me as a nurse but never saw the entertainment connection behind me as an entertainment awards founder. My previous song, Night Nurse, was released in 2016, only four months before the first QORIHC Awards Show,” said Mye Laurell. “It took a back seat as QORIHC became very very demanding to pull off, and I never sang again publicly until eight years later.”

It’s My House is projected to be on her EP, scheduled for release in late 2025.