Recording artiste Naomi Cowan says she was extremely intentional when composing her JUNO Awards-nominated début album Welcome to Paradise.

This body of work followed her StarGirl mixtape released in 2021.

Cowan’s début mixtape — Paradise Plum — was released in 2018.

“While the StarGirl mixtape was me exploring a more experimental, alternative universe, Welcome to Paradise is my homecoming. Sonically, it’s cohesive, it feels like a bridge between the classic reggae foundations I grew up on with a fresh, modern R&B/pop energy. I specifically committed to ensuring that the sound and writing of the overall project felt like a journey that you could take over and over again. You’re basically flipping through the pages of my journal,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Added Cowan: “Welcome to Paradise is a love letter from start to finish. ‘The greatest of these is love’, 1 Corinthians 13:13. The album serves as a reminder that true value comes from within in a world that measures worth based on productivity and status.”

She was nominated in the Reggae Recording of the Year category for the awards programme which is Canada’s equivalent to the Grammys.

The other nominees are Dagga Riddim Cypher by Jojo You Made That, Yung 2nuff, Erin B, Topman Meeko, One Don, and Enzooo; More Reggae/Funk it Up by Samora and Ammoye; Deh Ya by Kirk Diamond; and Ready For You by Exco Levi and Kheilstone.

The 2026 JUNO Awards ceremony will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, with the main broadcast held live from the TD Coliseum on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Welcome to Paradise was released on October 10, 2025, independently under Cowan’s own label, 7th C Records, and distributed by Easy Star Records in collaboration with Dreamspacein Canada.

She added that she forgot that the body of work was submitted for consideration and is basking in her first major nomination.

In the meantime, she will also be gracing the stage at on day two of Protoje’s The Lost In Time Festival on March 1 at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.

“[It is] an absolute honour to be a part of this line-up. To join this line-up after releasing such a significant project in my career is huge. [Being] alongside my contemporaries, who have also been building their catalogues over the past few years, it feels like a true coming of age moment for all of us. Myself and Chronixx released our albums on October 10, so it’s even more special knowing that we’ll be on the same night,” she said.

Artistes set to perform on day one (February 28) are Grammy-nominated acts Lila Iké and Mortimer; Tanya Stephens, Tessanne Chin, Yeza, Iotosh, and Joby Jay.

Day two will also feature Chronixx, Jesse Royal, D’Yani, Royal Blu, and David Slur.

The singer anticipates a series of wins for coming months.

“I look forward to seeing my entire team celebrating as many wins as possible this year. I’m not just doing this for myself, I work with incredible people who are super-talented and we all deserve to bask in the fruits of our labour. I simply want to enjoy every moment of it,” Cowan continued.

Naomi Cowan.