“Yes, I wrote my part and Beenie wrote his part. I wanted a song that was reminiscent of my childhood. I remember dancing to Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and Colin Lucas version of the song Dollar Wine. I absolutely love to dance. I use to dance in high school and for Tony Wilson so 5 Cent is my fun song, a song that gets me moving all the time…and the feedback in the clubs so far has been phenomenal,” she said in a release.
She recently shot a music video for the project which will be released this month.
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she grew up listening to 80s pop, as well as local dancehall artistes. Her music reflects all those influences.
“The first opportunity I got to start recording I took advantage of it. To me, life is a series of events that happens to you. I wasn’t sure of what would become, but music became my source of comfort through a very difficult time in my life. I don’t believe in finding oneself, I believe in creating yourself. And right now I’m in the process of creating myself,” she said.
She left Jamaica with a scholarship to Berkeley College to pursue a degree in International Business. She, however, graduated with two, the second in Management and with honours. While in college, she worked for Citigroup ‘Smith Barney’ in the area of portfolio investments.
“And while it offered me a challenge, I couldn’t express myself creatively. I knew right away that I couldn’t continue. Upon graduating, I walked away from Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and an offer from Goldman Sachs. I call it my road not taken,” she said.
She doesn’t have an expense account because she hasn’t modelled for the past 24 months, but has no regrets. She had started modelling after being discovered by renowned photographer and artist Peter Beard while she was jamming at a house party in New York City.
“It was a very strange moment for me when I realised this was the same man who discovered supermodel Iman, who was one of my role models. My first shoot with him was somewhat intimidating but I got through it. He was both my mentor and friend, but I am focusing more on music now,” she said.
She went on major commercial modeling gigs with designers like Katie Gallagher but gave up that the bright lights and fast-paced lifestyle for the gloomy dark escape of a studio booth.
“Music is my escape, it’s my expression, it’s my freedom. It is the avenue for me to both entertain and motivate people,” she said.