BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ETANA, popularly known as the Strong One, was among the many artistes who performed at the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s mega Rally and Concert held at the Warner Park Stadium on Friday, July 3.
Etana, whose real name is Shauna McKenzie, gave an amazing performance with her honey-combed voice with singles including ‘Wrong Address’, ‘Roots’ and ‘I am not afraid’.
In an exclusive interview, she told SKNVibes that she has been very busy as she is currently on a tour.
“A lot going on with me; I’m on tour in the West Coast of America from Nevada all the way to Oregon, to Canada, then here (St. Kitts), then Holland, LA, then Jamaica for Sum Fest,” she said.
She added that from August to October she would be touring Europe and would be concentrating on working on her sophomore album from November of this year.
Her album is expected to be released next year but no name has been affixed to it as yet.
In June 2008, Etana made history by releasing her debut album, The Strong One, which won the coveted Album Of The Year award at the 2009 EME Awards. As 2008 was nearing its end, Etana continued to shine with big time performances at the Olympic Grand Gala for the Jamaican Beijing Athletes in October and the exclusive Reggaelution Concert in early December; not to mention a US tour is the month of November.
Etana is currently promoting her new singles ‘Caltariba System’, ‘Free’ and ‘Blessings (ft. Alborosie)’. She is boldly taking on the world of music with the help of her management team at Solid Agency.
She said that her next album would not be too far away in terms of the message in her music from the first one.
“My next album is not gonna go too far from where I been. The reggae will always be the base of it, but I’m an artiste, a musician, I’m a creative person, so as you heard from the first album,” she said. “It’s not really in one box but the base is reggae. It will be wonderful, from personal, experiences to other people’s experiences…my music is always true to life.”
Commenting on her recent baptism at a church and at the same time known for her Rastafarian faith and cultural music, Etana said that she is just following her heart.
“If you read the speeches from Emperor Selassie I, in them he refers to Christ, and if you ask Luciano he would say the same thing. But you have people with their own beliefs, own religion, so I am not forcing anyone to do anything.
“I am just walking the path. I am following my heart. I’ve always been someone to follow my heart. And you can’t just say Rasta and bun Jesus. Everyone is talking about this white image of Jesus but I am over that. In the bible it says feet like brass and hair like wool. I don’t need any more explanation, and besides I am over colour as well,” she said.
Etana said that she has passed prejudice.
“I am over every prejudice there is, because if I have unconditional love in my heart for myself, then there is no way I can hate anyone else for their beliefs. I leave every judgment up to God.”
She explained that the fact that people expect all women to be a certain way, sometimes poses as a challenge for her.
“Sometimes, as a woman, they expect you to be very calm and nice all the time, but when it comes to business I am very strong and straight forward, and people take it as an attitude and they call you the ‘b’ word.
“But I really don’t care. I smile when it’s necessary and I’m serious when necessary to get what I want.”
In respect to love, Etana said she was in a relationship for two and half years and decided that it was not for her.
She encourages women to be strong and not afraid to walk away like she did and is now focusing on her career.
“I don’t think it was a bad breakup, but I think it wasn’t for me. I represent woman and I represent them to the fullest, and I would just like to encourage everyone to be strong, to be firm and never settle for less. I am not afraid to move on, I am not afraid to do anything, I am not afraid to be myself.”
In terms of advice to young people, Etana said that they should not wait until they are 25 years old to decided what they want to do with their lives.
“Never wait til you get to 25 to decide what you want. Everything in this world is already yours, but you must believe that it is. Work towards it, want what you want, mean it, live a live with love its greatest gift.”
For the Jamaica Reggae Sum Fest, Etana will be sharing the stage with international artistes Toni Braxton, Nas and also regional artistes Damian Marley, Inner Circle, Taurus Riley, Da’Ville, Rhaatid, Romain Virgo, Mackie Conscious and Sophia Squire.
