Words by Etana/Photos by Martei Korley
Since she first came on the scene in 2007 with her debut single, “Wrong Address,” Etana has been one of reggae’s strongest female voices. Over the last six years, the August Town-born singer has emerged as a leader for women in the genre, headlining all-female bills and speaking out against double standards faced by her and other artists. (Read Etana’s picks for reggae’s 10 greatest female icons here).
As we spotlight the often-overlooked role of women in reggae with our “Empresses + Queens” series this week, we couldn’t think of a better person to start with than Etana. The singer, who celebrates the release of her latest album, I Rise, with a show tonight at SOBs in New York City, spoke with us at sea, somewhere between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, following her performance on last month’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise.