Naomi Cowan creates memories with set at Lost In Time Festival
Singer/songwriter Naomi Cowan pulled out all the stops to ensure that her performance at the Lost In Time Festival over the weekend was one for the books.
“I knew I wanted to curate something very special…I haven’t performed like that in Jamaica for about three years, with a live band and everything, since Rum Fest; so for me, I knew that I wanted to have an experience with the audience. I wanted it to be memorable. I wanted to have fun, I wanted everybody to have fun with me and so preparation wise I just dug deep into finding moments,” Cowan told OBSERVER ONLINE.
“Most of our preparation—me and my music director Djenne Greaves— was really like ‘how can we create moments throughout the whole set.’ I only had 25 minutes so what I wanted was at like every song, there was a moment that you could remember and we incorporated special arrangements and remixes and vocals in the set,” she said.
Cowan’s set was just before nightfall and received endorsement from the patrons inside Hope Gardens, St Andrew.
The singer treated her fans to popular tracks like Paradise Plum, Kingston Traffic and Peace Of Mind. Energy—which formed part of her StarGirl mixtape—was also performed for the first time live. She further invited up-and-coming singers Shanique Marie and Joby Jay to the stage for cameo sets.
The brief accompaniment from her female counterparts was among the highlights of the evening.
“On the lineup there were only three women and I wanted to show the community that women in music support each other and that New Wave is about exposing new talent,” she said.
Cowan noted that being part of the highly attended festival was an honour for her, particularly because of the quality of performers.
“I think it’s just an indication of what’s to come from Jamaican music more than anything else. I’m happy to have been part of it because the lineup of artistes that were on the festival are all people I admire, that I respect, and so it was just really cool to be in the same space as my contemporaries and the audience that was there represents the young, creative people of Jamaica. A lot of the people that were there these are like our case makers, change makers. So, being part of the festival was just a joy,” she said.
The daughter of gospel singer Carlene Davis, and impresario Tommy Cowan, the singer launched her career in 2015 with the songs Naked and Prepare (Ye The Way).
Cowan has remained busy working on several projects.
“I have a StarGirl follow up working on. I’ve been in London as well. I’m gonna continue finishing it up out here. I don’t have a date just yet because for me quality is most important over setting a deadline. I’ve also just recently collaborated with Easy Star Records in California and they are releasing an album in honour of David Bowie and my single is the first one that they’re pushing. It’s called Moonage Daydream, and we’re shooting a video for that, so that’s something really cool that’s in development,” she said.
– Kadiesha Perry