Living in Haiti for 15 years, singer Sa-fiya got acquainted with that country’s diverse culture, participating in the annual Carnival event for several years. Now back in her native Jamaica, she is keen to establish herself as a solo act.
Sa-fiya’s first crack at the Jamaican charts is Smillie, Smillie, a song written and produced by Bobby Treasure for Treasure Productions. It features a solid cast of musicians including bass guitarist Glen Browne, his brother, guitarist Dalton Browne, keyboardist Robbie Lyn and drummer Kirk Bennett.
The choice of musicians was deliberate, says Sa-fiya, as “I was going for an old school vibe.”
A mix of dancehall and reggae, Smillie, Smillie is a change in sound for Sa-fiya who moved to Haiti with her parents as a child. Her father was employed in the capital, Port-Au-Prince, where she was exposed to a potpourri of culture.
Sa-fiya was a member of 4×4, a vocal group who had an appreciation for the indigenous Zouk and Kompa music, as well as American rap, Jamaican dancehall and reggae. They had a big hit song during Haiti’s Carnival in 1999 with Voom Voom Voom.
“Being in another country I made sure not to forget where I came from. The radio stations and DJs in Haiti are usually updated with the latest songs that come out of Jamaica,” Sa-fiya said.
Sa-fiya was born in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, and grew up in Cockburn Gardens. That community has a vibrant sound system culture, producing dancehall heavyweights like Josey Wales, Super Cat, Early B and U Roy, owner of hometown sound system Stur Gav.
She grew up listening to Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Wayne Wonder and Whitney Houston.
Smillie, Smillie, which addresses hypocritical friendships, is the first project in what she foresees as a long-term musical relationship with Bobby Treasure, who is also producing her first album scheduled for release next year.
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