Photo Credit (Marvin Barley)
MIRAMAR – Helmed by the legendary Jamaican multi-instrumentalist and producer Clive Hunt, Etana’s fourth studio album I Rise will be available tomorrow October 28, 2014 on VP Records. The Jamaican singer-songwriter’s melodic power blended with Hunt’s rich arrangements sets this album apart as one of the best throughout her stellar career.
For National Breast Cancer Awareness month, a portion of the album’s proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Weston when purchased at VP Records retail stores in New York and Florida or online at VPReggae.com.
Etana also kicked off her U.S. tour this month. This past week she performed on Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s first annual Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise on October 22 as well as shows in Cape Cod, Boston and Philadelphia. She heads to New York City today (Oct 27) and tomorrow (Oct 28) to promote the new album and then to the Midwest region and Texas for dates with reggae icon Cocoa Tea. See remaining tour schedule below.
Etana carries the torch as reggae’s leading lady with this classic collection of love ballads and roots anthems on her new album I Rise. With her poised assurance and newfound strength, she evolves spiritually, mentally, emotionally and musically. Whether she shedding light on the harsh ghetto realities on “Trigger,” “Ward 21 (Stenna’s Song)” and “How Long,” conveying romantic longings on “Richest Girl,” “Love Song,” and “By Your Side” or expressing her deep-rooted spirituality on the exquisite Bob Marley remake of “Selassie Is The Chapel,” the Marcia Griffith’s cover of “Stepping Out Of Babylon” “Emancipation” and “On My Way” – each of the album’s tracks is delivered with her soulful conviction. Producer Clive Hunt (Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, Rolling Stones, The Wailers, Grace Jones, Jimmy Cliff) arranged an all-star team of the island’s musicians to contribute to the set – including himself, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Grub Cooper, Handel Tucker, and Dean Fraser.
Watch video for new single “Richest Girl” (MTV Iggy premiere): https://sflcn.com/etana-richest-girl-official-music-video/
Watch video for the album cut “Trigger”: https://sflcn.com/etana-trigger-official-video/
I Rise follows Etana’s critically-acclaimed albums Better Tomorrow (2013), Free Expressions (2011) and The Strong One (2008). Better Tomorrow was hailed by BBC as her “most seamless album to date and finest piece of songwriting yet” and Associated Press called it “mature and confident sound with top-notch lyrical content and unique vocals.” Free Expressions won praise from NPR for being “a rarity: music that sermonizes, yet still sweetly serenades,” while Essence raved that her debut The Strong One exuded “poetic consciousness amid soul-stirring grooves rivals that of gifted neo-soulsters.” Etana’s I Rise is poised for equal success and will inspire, liberate and uplift a new generation.
