2 months ago
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When Shauna McKenzie steps out on the lawns of King’s House on National Heroes Day, October 20, she is not yet sure who she will be wearing – designer wise – but one thing she is sure about is her mission. Etana, the girl from the Wrong Address, will be present at King’s House, the official residence of the Governor General, to receive the prestigious Order of Distinction (OD) in the rank of Officer from the Jamaican Government for her contribution to reggae music.
From the Wrong Address to King’s House is surely the stuff of which real dreams are made, and the two-time Grammy nominee is humbled, grateful, and ecstatic all at once.
Born in August Town, St Andrew, the only girl in a family of boys, Etana migrated to the United States as a pre-teen and would attend elementary and high school there, later enrolling at Broward College to study nursing.
Fate, however, stepped in, and she pushed the pause button on college to embrace music, first as a member of the girl group, Gift. Her bio states that: “At the time Universal Records was interested in their music so Etana reluctantly agreed to wear the skimpy outfits dictated by the music industry’s pervasive stereotyping of female artistes; then one day, she could no longer conform.”
She took a pilgrimage of sorts to the land of her birth and there found the solace that her soul longed for – the morally upright principles of Rastafari with its view of women as regally robed empresses. In 2005, a friend introduced her to Fifth Element, a production and management company whose roster of artistes included conscious Rastafarian singer Richie Spice, whose single Earth a Run Red was creating tsunamis. Soon, Etana was touring Europe and North America as one of his backing vocalists.
With music as her daily life, Etana’s début single for Fifth Element, Wrong Address, was born. It is based on the true story of how her aunt was advised to lie about where she lived in order to get a job. The song resonated and raced to the top of several charts. Her début album, The Strong One, followed, and Etana was nominated in the 2008 MOBO Awards. Several successful albums followed, among them Reggae Forever (2018), which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category, making Etana the first female artiste in more than 20 years to be nominated in the category. That, in itself, was a win.
This week, 5 Questions With ... turns the spotlight on Shauna ‘Etana’ McKenzie, OD.
1. What was your reaction when you first heard about the OD and how are you feeling now?
I was very surprised! And I am grateful to be considered in such regard by my own Jamaican Government.
2. Is an OD an honour that you have dreamed about?
I have always watched the ceremony. The last time I was there I was a performer for all the honorees ... and seeing the other music honorees ... I was always so happy for them. I never thought of what it would be like if I were honoured in the same way.
3. When you decided to make music your life, did you imagine that one day Etana ‘The Strong One’ would be receiving this accolade for your contribution to the genre?
No, I didn’t, because I create from a place of inspiration not with [the] expectation of [an] award ... but I am extremely elated that my work is being recognised and my family and my relatives are also ecstatic.
4. How does this OD compare to a Grammy nomination?
In the Grammys, it is my peers in music who may or may not know who I am…but they believe that my creativity was extraordinary enough to receive a nomination. All of that is major. Though still as major, I believe the Order of Distinction is an honour from great leaders in my own country who have seen me grow throughout the years and seen the philanthropic work that I do, and it puts a big smile on my face.
5. What has been the reaction from family and close friends?
They are over of the moon ... full of smiles. They are already planning a dinner party.
BRAWTA:
Are you clearing your schedule to ensure that you are at King’s House on Heroes’ Day to accept this honour in person? And, any idea yet whose design you will step out in?
Yes, I would never miss it. I have two of my day-one Jamaican designers in mind. They have been with me for most of my major appearances. However, if I do not, it will definitely be my favourite designer from Kenya, Avido.
English (US) ·