Canada-based reggae artiste Empress Divine released a six-track EP titled Jah Lives on Feb 19 via her own label, Empress Divine Muzik.

The rootsy and conscious title song of the project reflects her guiding philosophy of life.

“I led with this song, Jah Lives, because I have faced many obstacles in life over the years and this one resonated the most. I have learned that no matter how hard life gets, the Most High never gave me nothing that I can’t bear, so I know personally that Jah lives, reigns and rules in the heart of I n I,” she said.

The project consists of songs like Natty A Grow, Brap Brap, Mama, Real Friends and Single Girl Blues featuring Blk Orchid. She said that the project is getting rave reviews in the Toronto music community.

“This body of work is music that I have been working on over my musical career and I feel the world needs to hear, and the response has been positive in Toronto and the Caribbean,” she said.

She teased that she is currently working on a big collaboration with an “international reggae superstar”.

“That song will be released in the coming months of 2025. I also have another song and visual called “Medi” produced by Seami Records dropping soon so look out for that as well,” she said.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Empress Divine’s parents are of Jamaican descent.

She attended an all-girl school called St Joseph Morrow Park. While growing up in the church and singing in the choir, she developed a passion for music. That passion only heightened when her mother passed away when she was 8 years old. She turned to music to salve her emotional pain.

“So I used music as my healing to deal with the pain of her absence,” she said.

She became a Rastafarian in 2004, and recorded her first song in 2012.