By Sade Gardner
Observer writer—
Pray for Me, the third single from Carlene Davis’s upcoming album which features former dancehall act Lady Saw, now Minister Marion Hall is all set for release this Friday.
A decade ago this single would have been an unlikely collaboration; however, it all came together when both artistes worked on a special mission at Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre in St Catherine after Hall got baptised in December 2015.
“I’ve always loved her from before, genuinely and truly with the love of God. I have always looked at her and saw the glow of God, that kind of glow we call the Shekinah glory glow,” Hall said of Davis.
“When I got saved the Lord sent me to that women’s prison. I got scared as I was still young in the faith. I asked her and her husband Tommy Cowan if they would come and they said yes,” Hall told the Jamaica Observer.
Though nervous, Hall ministered to the women in word while Davis did so in song. Davis would later contact Hall to work on a project.
“I had a song before that I wanted her to be on, but getting hooked up was a challenge,” Davis said. “I had another song and I heard her voice on it and she happened to be home (Jamaica). I thought to myself ‘I hope she doesn’t mind switching songs …and we did it and it was so smooth,” Davis continued.
Hall said she gravitated more to the new track.
“When I listened to it, it was young, fresh and hip, I said a lot of young people who are not saved can get connected to it. I couldn’t find much deejay lyrics since I got saved and that’s what I’m used to. But when I heard the song, I got in the word and the riddim and everything made it easy for me to fit on it,” Hall shared.
Davis hopes the track will engender unity in Jamaica by reminding us of the power of prayer and togetherness.
“As a believer, when we come together as one, the chain link gets stronger — it’s the same thing with prayer. I live in Jamaica and this is my home country. When I see challenges especially with our young people, we have a responsibility. If you are a believer, let’s come together. God is able; let’s come into agreement and speak life over our community and children. It’s no longer about you and I, it’s about coming together to make a change,” she expressed.
Davis is excited about the summer release of her eleventh album. Her previous released tracks Praising God and Jamaica Belongs to Jesus will be featured on the 17-track project.
“We’re expecting great things with this album, I’m excited for it. I feel very liberated being in the production process. I stopped watching faces and tuned out the noise, and learned to strike a balance between marketablity without compromising what I’m feeling within. Yes, I’m spending the money so I want to see results. Music keeps evolving and I am foundational; they are putting me in the category of iconic. But I have to follow what works best for where I am regardless of what is selling or what is playing on the radio. Maybe this generation needs to hear something that they haven’t. This album is pure heart,” said Davis.
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