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Now
twenty-five years old, Queen Omega hails from
San Fernando in Trinidad. Encouraged by her
mother (to whom she pays moving tribute on "Mama"),
she began entering local talent shows from the
age of nine, writing her own calypsos and even
rapping on national television. Later on she
sang backing vocals for local producer Kenny
Philips, accompanying numerous top Soca acts
both in the studio and on stage. Raised in a
musical family, shed grown up listening to soul
artists like Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker and
Whitney Houston, as well as jazz and the traditional
music of Trinidad.
Such
foundations were to serve her well later
on; her favourites however, were reggae and
dancehall. Inspired by the teachings of Emperor
Haile Selassie I, her song writing skills
soon blossomed, with roots and reality themes
coming to the fore as her love of Rastafari
deepened. It was on a trip to Jamaica with the
Solomon Band where she performed at the Caribbean
Music Expo in late 2000 that she met producer
Mickey D, who brought her to London the following
year for sessions that resulted in her debut
set, "Queen Omega".
This
was followed by several hit singles and a
second album titled "Pure
Love". Early 2004 Jet Star released "Away
From Babylon", Queen Omegas third and most
accomplished album then, finding her still residing
within Mickey D's Green House Family. With these
three albums and many well received live performances,
Queen Omega has been absolutely blazing a trail
for female roots reggae artists. And she continues
to do so with this brand new collection of tunes.
Now
under the wings of the very talented French
production Bost & Bim & the label Specail
Delivery Music, she shows that she has improved
her vocal delivery further. She mixes (but not
so much) her standard singing with deejaying,
and is equally efficient at doing both. Besides
that she once again fully showcases her devastating
ability to write to the point messages. Thus
Queen Omega is well on her way to creating a
sort of consistency the roots side of reggae
has never had from a female artist.
Outstanding
tracks are "Selassie I Know", "Love
Each Other", "Me Beg Yu", "Keep
The Faith", "No Retire", the combination
song with Buju Banton titled "Perfect Combination",
and the title track "Destiny". Her
distinctive voice, the conscious lyrics and some
real good riddims - fresh originals as well as
do-overs - makes this CD truly worthwhile checking
out!
http://www.myspace.com/queenomega
Mr
T & Teacher from www.reggae-vibes.com
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