Over the years Reggae music has taken unique twists and turns navigating life and relationships on a visceral level. We’re often blessed with a host of artistes but very few truly touch us with a degree of authenticity and unmatched pulse that opens the opportunity for a cultural cross-pollination.Then enter three beauties, signalling a new wave of honest black art and storytelling; whether in references or tone. Prepped for mainstream success we present our anointed Rubies of Reggae – Lila Iké, Sevana and Naomi Cowan.
The Becomings of Lila Iké
She may describe her hair as an avalanche of caramel sway; often bouncing as she walks and framing her freckled features as the perfect afro. But more recently she’s sporting a faux locs do that finds her fingers unconsciously tangling themselves in. “I really love locks” Lila professes. “To be completely honest I prefer my natural curls… but who knows, I may just wake up one day and feel like I may never comb my hair again.” She continues laughing while tugging at a lock.
Unapologetically Sevana
When she speaks, Sevana sounds as if she’s weaving together melodies using the brush strokes of Leonardo da Vinci. She emits a smooth, diverse and well-crafted sonic persona, polished by the likes of Anita Baker, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé and Celine Dion all while remaining true to who she is; a transparent native from Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, dancing on the edge of soulful Reggae music. “Growing up I was a tomboy,” she shrugs as if to imply only her inner circle of family and friends would understand. “I remember going home very late at nights after playing a great match of cricket or football or just racing in the streets. I was simply doing the usual unruly children things but strangely enough, I would have moments where I sat in trees for extended periods of time and write a lot. Just write whatever I was feeling. It’s something that I have no idea where I picked it up from but I don’t think anyone out rightly showed me that you can write your feelings out. I just started to do so and it felt really good so I kept doing it.”
Take a Bite of This
Paradise Plum
She takes a deep breath and releases a sigh of anxiety from her lips. Her makeup is every shade of perfection as she bats her lashes close. Performing before a crowd never shook her nerves and sure enough, she welcomes any opportunity to ‘wow’ the curious listener. The instruments of the live band slowly paint a picture around her. The baseline of the guitar wraps its arms around her waist while the trap drum set moves her feet as if she’s in a marching band. The piano keys send thrills up her spine as the melody of her backing vocalists harmonies their way into her heart. Her lips now part as slowly as rose petals falling to the ground and her eyes are revealed to the audience for the first time. “Paradise Plum!” screams an eager fan melting her to a river of joy.
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Over the years Reggae music has taken unique twists and turns navigating life and relationships on a visceral level. We’re often blessed with a host of artistes but very few truly touch us with a degree of authenticity and unmatched pulse that opens the opportunity for a cultural cross-pollination.Then enter three beauties, signalling a new wave of honest black art and storytelling; whether in references or tone. Prepped for mainstream success we present our anointed Rubies of Reggae – Lila Iké, Sevana and Naomi Cowan.
The Becomings of Lila Iké
She may describe her hair as an avalanche of caramel sway; often bouncing as she walks and framing her freckled features as the perfect afro. But more recently she’s sporting a faux locs do that finds her fingers unconsciously tangling themselves in. “I really love locks” Lila professes. “To be completely honest I prefer my natural curls… but who knows, I may just wake up one day and feel like I may never comb my hair again.” She continues laughing while tugging at a lock.
Unapologetically Sevana
When she speaks, Sevana sounds as if she’s weaving together melodies using the brush strokes of Leonardo da Vinci. She emits a smooth, diverse and well-crafted sonic persona, polished by the likes of Anita Baker, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé and Celine Dion all while remaining true to who she is; a transparent native from Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, dancing on the edge of soulful Reggae music. “Growing up I was a tomboy,” she shrugs as if to imply only her inner circle of family and friends would understand. “I remember going home very late at nights after playing a great match of cricket or football or just racing in the streets. I was simply doing the usual unruly children things but strangely enough, I would have moments where I sat in trees for extended periods of time and write a lot. Just write whatever I was feeling. It’s something that I have no idea where I picked it up from but I don’t think anyone out rightly showed me that you can write your feelings out. I just started to do so and it felt really good so I kept doing it.”
Take a Bite of This
Paradise Plum
She takes a deep breath and releases a sigh of anxiety from her lips. Her makeup is every shade of perfection as she bats her lashes close. Performing before a crowd never shook her nerves and sure enough, she welcomes any opportunity to ‘wow’ the curious listener. The instruments of the live band slowly paint a picture around her. The baseline of the guitar wraps its arms around her waist while the trap drum set moves her feet as if she’s in a marching band. The piano keys send thrills up her spine as the melody of her backing vocalists harmonies their way into her heart. Her lips now part as slowly as rose petals falling to the ground and her eyes are revealed to the audience for the first time. “Paradise Plum!” screams an eager fan melting her to a river of joy.
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