
Annette Brissett has good reason to lift her head up as the release of her latest album “Lift Your Head Up” on her label T.A.C. via digital distributor Zojak World Wide is bound to take this reggae artist to new heights in the industry.
Born in Kingston Jamaica, she moved to New York as a child. While attending school she learned to play a variety of musical instruments. This foundation set her on the path to becoming one of the most talented and versatile female reggae artists in the industry today. Not only is she a musician but she is also a composer and writer and possesses a truly unique singing voice. To her credit she has penned major hits such as I Shall Sing for international reggae superstar Marcia Griffiths and I’ll Be There For You for king of lovers rock Beres Hammond. She played with the all female band Stepping Razor and later on she formed the all female band Sistren. Annette also recorded with other professional groups such as Roots Vibration and Kalabash. She and her band has opened for reggae giants Steel Pulse and Judy Mowatt. Eventually she teamed up with Sly and Robbie of the Taxi Crew with whom she produced “Annette Brissett and The Taxi Gang”. The album created new fans for her and she soon gained a large international following in countries such as US, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Jamaica, and The Caribbean.
This new album is bound to have a large and very real impact on the reggae scene. Its mix of infectious roots reggae rhythms with more soulful ballad-like compositions will not only delight her present fans but will appeal to a new fan base. This album is poised to make Annette Brissett a household name. She has indeed arrived.
In the following interview, Annette talks about her album which took her 11 years to complete and her experiences in the business as a strong black woman. She also has some advice for upcoming female artists in the business.
Why are you proud of this album?
The album was written entirely by me. I wrote all the songs, played instruments on the album, and got a few tracks from producers such as Fabian Cook, Dean Pond, Hopeton Lindo, and Syl Gordon where I did overdubs on all of these tracks. I played the bass, the drums, guitar, keyboards and percussion. I’m my own engineer and producer. It took 11 years to complete and is my proudest achievement because it was done the way I wanted.
Where did you draw inspiration from?
From a variety of life experiences, and also from other people’s experiences. When you go places, see people and move around people you’re living it – experiencing it firsthand. “God puts a song in my heart every day. Tomorrow there’s a song the same way.”
What is your experience as a woman in the business, and what is your advice to upcoming female artists?
It is not easy being a female in a male dominated business. There are many challenges and disappointments. People who you thought were your friends “burn” you but you have to lift your head up and be you. Ultimately you have to be you in this business. There is a popular misconception that a woman in the music business has to sleep around to get ahead. Personally, I didn’t sleep around to get where I am today. My passion for the music made me focus on what is important to me and that is connecting to people through a song, to me that is a blessing. I advise upcoming females to know what you’re going into the business for. There are many roads but only one way out and you should remember this after you have achieved the fame and the money. Some people may discourage you but you should always remember what you went into the business for and focus on the goals you want to reach.