MARLA Brown was 12 when her father, reggae singer Dennis Brown, passed away. A trained ballet/contemporary dancer, the 28-year-old Briton is making somewhat of a career shift.
She is set to release her debut single Better Days in a few weeks. The single is produced by the Florida-based Royal Order Music.
Brown, who is currently in the island, was slated to perform on her father’s tribute concert at the Kingston Waterfront yesterday. That was, however, postponed until July.
Brown explained how she became hooked on the music.
“Last year I came for my father’s tribute show and it was a kind of awakening for me. I was just struck by how much the work of my father was so adored. It was nice to hear from people how much his music influenced so many. While I was exposed to the music scene when my father was alive, it all just came home to me last year and my interest in becoming a singer just grew,” she said.
Describing her style as a fusion of jazz, neo soul and pop set reggae beat, she said she intends to work with some of the industry’s heavy hitters including Stone Love’s Rory Gilligan, Penthouse’s Donovan Germain, and Tony Kelly. She said she is doing work with the Marley brothers and producers in Europe.
Of her father’s catalogue, Brown’s said her favorite is the ballad Inseparable.
“It was written by my mother Yvonne for dad. I just find it to be the ultimate love letter. I would love to cover some of dad’s songs, but right now I’m concentrating on getting my feet, getting my sound out there. I really feel it’s my time to say ‘hello world’,” she said.
Dennis Brown, reggae’s crown prince, died July 1, 1999 of pneumonia complications. He was 42.
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