Tracks from the upcoming album

I got some mixes yesterday of  a few of the songs that were done with Shane Brown and the JukeBox band they are incredible.  The music takes me somewhere else.  Makes me forget about the business side of reggae and made me in love all over again. The power of music.  Big ups to the BVs i'll post thier names later when I get them all.  It's just wicked!!!! and i'm all smiles.

I made it without him.

I hate when people attempt to take credit for something they didn't do. According to folks on the street and my aunt in Jamaica, my X who brought me to Jamaica with him to start a business tells everyone he's responsible for making me into who I am.  Not the case.  He brought me to fifth element and introduced me to his friends.  They wanted a back up singer for Richie Spice and I opted to do it cause I was gonna be in Jamaica for three months anyway.  It just happened that the energy was so high they asked me to do another show and another and the more I did, the more I got comfortable.  I was always into Rastafari before I got to Jamaica. When I got into the group in America I had to fit in and I figured instead of straightening my natural hair, I would braid it and he loved it too.  Long, flowy micro braids and colors :) but when I got to Jamaica I saw no no need for it anymore.  Everyone in fifth element accepted me for who I really am and I needed nothing else.  I started showing more of me and he flipped.  "mi nuh wan nuh rasta gyal.  after me never meet you a wear yuh hair so" lol! I didn't care cause I was being me all the way.  We had several physical fights and then the effects of the fights started to show.  Richie saw my bruised lip one day and sat next to me and said "den empress, a who buss you mouth"  lol! told him exactly what happened.  Subby "Clause Sayers" called him and said " I raised you and this is not tollerated.  She is my daughter and you cannot put your hands on her".  He said he wouldn't do it again.  I was scared out of my whitts cause this wasnt the result I was looking for.  I was hoping they would kick his butt.  Anyway he told me to go back to the house in Spanish town.  I told him I didnt want to do that because he is gonna hit me again for telling.  Subby promised me he wouldnt.  By the time I got to the house, I didnt even get out the car we fought again and this time, I lost a nail... yeah the whole nail.  I didnt go back to the studio for a few days cause he didnt want to take me until subby called and asked him to drop me off.  I showed him my nail soon as I got there and told him what happened.  That is when he told my X that I would not be coming back to his house and asked him not to come back through fifth element's gate.  All that was done with Subbys Licensed gun on the table.  I was happy  I was free.  We've had couple other instances where we met outside the door of fifth element but it never worked out.  We were already on two different paths.  By the next year, the first single was released, "Wrong Address"  and the work and investments were done by and through Claude Sayers and Ethan Evans, nothing to do with my X.   Yes I survived and I am still surviving and happily married.  Still riding on my high horse, he said he would and must kick me off of.  No woman should stay in an abused relationship because of fear of anything.  Fight your way out.  Sometimes you get sent angels like I did.  Do I think I have "arrived" no I have a very long way to go but I am where I am because I love what I do, have people around me who work really hard, fans who love me very much :) and most off all, i'm very motivated.

In the studio with Shane and performing in FTL

It was very good to see young musicians and young producers coming up with some huge sounds the other day. The vocals with Sherida, Nikki and Shevaun were also very different. One of the songs was like a old nevro spiritual love song omg! Beautiful. I'm happy with the recordings so far and I'm looking forward to being back in the studio next week.


Heavy d on the other hand. I'm in the back a tuff gong talking to the a&r and he got a phone call where is Etana I feel like I having a heart attack. I ran to the car rushed him to the hospital only to find out it was nothing thank god. I mean nothing was wrong with his heart. Might have been gas lol! Caribbean people always think everything like that is gas.

I felt weird performing in Ft. lauderdale but I'm from Jamaica spent so many years of my life there but ever felt uncomfortable. I think Jamaica molded me. Here in Ft. lauderdale I dont know spent many years of my life here too but It just doesn't feel the same. The people sang along and we did enjoy ourselves but I came off stage and it back to seeing some faces, a lot a faces I knew for years and my mother. Lol! Yes she was there.

Silence is rewarding sometimes

This is one a dem times that I feel like turning off my phone and sitting in total silence.

Memories of songs I wrote

I remember when i wrote "learn to love". Taurus Riley brought the track to my house and said Dean wants you to sing on this track. I was always hesitant to write on tracks that were not exclusive but he convinced me it wouldn't be many people on the track and I should try it. I started humming an idea and and the lyrics came like someone talking in my ear. Taurus came up With the line, honestly it doesn't me to fit a category, free to me so free. Today on WLRN with Rick Davis, that track must have played like three times and someone called in on it. It was a very cool vibe. His spirit is very positive and he seems to be a very happy person, vibe was wicked!

Random thoughts

Today was a great day. It was a little quiet but I did throw down a wicked dinner though. Yup! I sure did.

Have you noticed the new live shows all over Jamaica? Well part of it is for the Jamaica fifty celebrations and the other half I think people are really missing real live music without the artist rushing off stage for the next act to come up. The real up close and personal vibe to me sometimes can be more fun. There isn't this huge VIP area and then the other fans way back. I like the vibe though gonna be doing some a that myself. When I find the time that is. It will be well planned.

I wonder why is it that I don't keep up with friends much? When I see them there is so much to talk about and those who are really real souls we connect as I we speak everyday and I carry them in my heart everyday and think of them a lot from time to time but to pick up the phone and say hello? Lol! ... Once in a blue moon I will. Is it a bad thing that I don't communicate physically much. I think people I love should know that its not a today love or a " what you can do for me love". I love with all of my whole spirit. I find it hard to hate though cause I have accepted everyone for who they truly are so no one who gets me really angry. I might say a few words but after I say how I feel that's it and I move on. I can talk after a fight like nothing ever happened. People I find hard to deal with I simply just move on, take what applies to me and live as if they never existed. Lol! If I should see them I can even great them without being being angry or feeling any hate but then I'll walk away and that will be just like another passing moment.

A part of my weird side.

Beautiful day

Beautiful day

Strength of a Woman

All fans of Etana 'The Strong One' can catch her live in St. Croix this weekend feb 18th, 2011 at the show called Strength of a Woman. The show also features female reggae artiste Alaine and will be hoted by the diva Nikki Z.