NAOMI COWAN TAKES A BITE OF THE “PARADISE PLUM!”

Observer senior writer—

First recorded at producer Clement Dodd’s Studio One in the early 1970’s, Queen of The Minstrels is one of reggae’s enduring rhythms. It has driven a number of hit songs, the latest being Paradise Plum by singer Naomi Cowan.

Paradise Plum is number one on the South Florida Reggae Chart, arguably the most influential reggae list in the United States.

The song, which entered the chart thirteen weeks ago, is a breakout hit for Cowan, daughter of singer Carlene Davis and impresario Tommy Cowan.

“Seeing this kind of result shows me how important it is to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to my music. Beyond that, I’m in shock; I kinda don’t believe it,” she told Jamaica Observer’s weekly Splash.

Released in May, Paradise Plum is produced by Teflon ZincFence, whose credits include songs by Sizzla, Capleton and Chonixx.

He took his revamped Queen of The Minstrels beat to Cowan late last year. She immediately began writing lyrics for it.

“What came to me was the hook. What I first felt was the story, the melody where the song goes, ‘Silence!’ That came almost instantly and the sound followed,” she explained. “After I wrote the hook and bridge, I approached Sarah Couch to help me finish writing this story [and] it took us one night to finish the song.”

Cowan, who is in her 20’s, launched her recording career in 2015 with the songs Naked and Prepare (Ye The Way). Last year. She covered Things You Say You Love. The original was a big hit in 1967 for The Jamaicans, a rocksteady group in which her father was a member.

Carlene Davis had a number of hit songs throughout the 1980’s (Stealing Love on The Side, Like Old Friends Do and Dial my Number) and early 1990’s before leaving secular music for gospel. Naomi Cowan says she has never felt pressured to emulate her mother’s success.

“Honestly, I don’t feel any pressure. What I feel is a sense of privilege to have her as an example; not even so much in her achievements of having number ones and multiple albums, but more in terms of the positive impact she’s had on people.”