Empress Miriam Simone had a full slate of activities during her recent trip to Jamaica. Not only did the Suriname-born singer perform on three shows, she recorded songs with some of reggae’s leading producers.
Those songs are expected to be on her first album, scheduled for release in February. Some of the sessions were produced by Bobby Digital, best known for his work with Grammy Award winners Shabba Ranks and Morgan Heritage, as well as Sizzla and Garnet Silk.
Digital produced Disappointed and You Know How to Love, two songs from Follow my Dreams, Empress Miriam Simone’s 2012 EP. She described her latest Jamaican sessions in October and November, as satisfactory.
“Musically speaking, it inspired and grew me to work with these talented and professional reggae producers and artists. My trip was fruitful and I’m looking forward to be back in February for my album release in Kingston,” she said.
In addition to Bobby Digital, Empress Miriam Simone worked with producers Sheldon “Calibud” Stewart and Everton Moore, known in music circles as Caveman.
She performed at the Coconut Festival in St. Mary parish in eastern Jamaica and the Dub Club in Kingston, arguably the country’s hottest reggae location.
An album has been a long time coming for Empress Miriam Simone who is from Paramaribo, the Suriname capital but lives in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She listened to reggae in her youth, admiring the music of Bob Marley, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Sizzla.
Her first musical experience was with a hip hop/reggae group called Postmen, followed by a stint with Dutch group, Dredda Youthz. Empress Miriam Simone launched her solo career in 2009; that year, she co-founded Dredda Records, an independent label.
It was not all recording in Jamaica for Empress Miriam Simone. She also visited a home for pregnant teens.
“I went there with a group of six inspiring women and we gave them an inspirational message. I was blessed to sing my song Queen for them and I am glad these young girls have hope and felt strengthened,” she said.
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