Germans love and appreciation for Jamaica’s music, culture
and lifestyle cannot, and should not be questioned. Several prominent Germans
have publicly announced the influence that Jamaica’s urbanity has had on them.
Many have visited the island on numerous occasions while others have relocated
to Jamaica permanently, giving up a less hazardous lifestyle for a more
challenging one.
One such German is Reggae recording artist, Roots
Queen. Though she was born and grew up in Germany, Roots Queen fell in love
with Jamaica’s music many years ago as it was all she could listen to while
going through a difficult time in her life. Having had an interest in music
from a younger age, she decided that she would pursue a career as a Reggae
recording artist after witnessing some Jamaican performers at the annual Summer
Jam Festival (held in Cologne, Germany).
Roots Queen made her first visit to the island of Jamaica in
2004 and though it was a brief trip, she decided after returning to Germany
that she would relocate to Jamaica permanently. Roots Queen gave up
everything she had in Germany (a comfortable two bedroom house, a brand new
high end vehicle and several other luxurious items) and moved to Jamaica a few
years later. She settled in a cottage located in the residential district of
Ocho Rios, St. Ann and made friends quickly. She recounts that she learnt
everything from cooking to speaking (English and Patois) from her Jamaican
friends and the experiences shared with them were life changing. Regretfully
after only three short years in Jamaica Roots Queen had to go back to Germany
as she wanted to generate money to finance her musical career. The artist who
is now back on the island producing her debut album (which is 100%
Reggae/Dancehall), while simultaneously promoting its lead single, says that she
is still in love with everything about Jamaica.
“Powerful Energy” (which
is the name of her album) clearly defines the inner person that is Roots
Queen. The album is a collection of songs that captures specific
moments of her life and her thought process. Though the planning for this
project was done in Germany, the actual production was done in Jamaica at some
of the best music facilities on the island. Production, mixing and mastering of
“Powerful Energy” was done at Tuff
Gong, Gibby’s Front-room, Dehva’s House, Steven Stanley and Frenz For Real
Recording Studios. And the album features some of Jamaica’s most talented and
professional musicians, such as Denver Smith, Niki Burt and Dale Haslam.
Engineers that assisted with the project in various ways are Muzeeko, D-Lowe,
Ricardo “Red Boom” Reid, Chadwyck “Dehva” Gillings and others. “Powerful Energy” will be available to
the public by spring 2013 and will be on all major online music retail stores. Roots
Queen and her team have committed to also making physical CDs available
in some stores.
In the mean time, supporters of Roots Queen can enjoy her
lead single, “Feeling Free (Landlord)”.
The song which is accompanied by an official video (watch video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0vI5aEj0w)
has started to get some rotation in Jamaica and other parts of the world. “Feeling Free (Landlord)” can be heard
and downloaded at https://soundcloud.com/rootsqueen
Learn more about Roots Queen by visiting her official
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/Rootsqueenmusic?ref=ts&fref=ts
DJs should email mariajacksonent@gmail.com
for a free copy of the single “Feeling
Free (Landlord)”.
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