On Enchanting and No Regrets, Iris Stryx expresses a sensuality suitable for sultry pop songs. For her follow-up, the Bahamian singer wanted a spiritual flavour and reached out to Sizzla for guidance.

Noting that reggae “is part of the musical language that has shaped me as a Caribbean artiste”, Iris Stryx did not go into detail about the project, but says Sizzla is perfect for the message she wants to convey.

“It’s a very personal and introspective record about confronting the parts of yourself you once tried to hide, surviving difficult experiences and realising that growth never really ends; we are always becoming,” she explained.

The artiste charged that Sizzla brings a spiritual depth and cultural conviction that she believes will add something very powerful to the song.

Iris Stryx travelled to Jamaica for the recording sessions with Sizzla, whose songs include the hard-hitting Black Woman And Child and Solid As A Rock. During a visit to Kingston early this year she promoted Enchanting and No Regrets, which have done well in regional markets in the United States.

In an era in which artistes are genre tagged, she is determined to avoid labelling.

“I don’t want the music to feel confined to one genre or one island. I want it to feel Caribbean at its core while still being able to travel anywhere in the world,” said Iris Stryx.

Born in Nassau, the Bahamas, she was raised on the indigenous Goombay and Junkanoo sounds. There was also admiration for soca from the Eastern Caribbean, dancehall-reggae from Jamaica, American hip hop, and Afrobeats out of West Africa.

“Although dancehall is often present in the rhythm and energy of my music, reggae contributes something deeper; its consciousness, spirituality, honesty and willingness to speak about real life,” said Iris Stryx. “That influence becomes especially important on a record like the one I’m creating with Sizzla.”