4 months ago
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For Reggae songbird Shuga, performing at the Rock Away Valentine’s Concert at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York wasn’t just another gig; it was a manifestation come to life.
“It wasn’t my first time performing in New York, but it was my first time performing for such a huge audience,” Shuga shared, as she expressed thanks to the organisers, Jammins Events, VP Records, and the legendary Beres Hammond for the opportunity.
What made this New York performance stand out for Shuga was the vibrant, multicultural audience. “People from all across the Caribbean and the diaspora are all present so it has a familiar, yet fresh feeling because at the same time I was able to meet new fans – Hispanics, Latinos, Africans – you name it. They were all there, enjoying reggae music from my little island paradise.”
Shuga’s set was a sweet and soulful blend of reggae – honouring the likes of Marcia Griffiths, Dawn Penn and Tanya Stephens – deep soul and blues, with the right amount of the singer’s creative vocal style. She described the joy of hearing the entire arena sing along with her to songs like Griffiths’ Dreamland, Michael Bolton’s Said I Love You and Dorothy Moore’s Misty Blue.
The Montego Bay-born singer and songwriter also performed her recent single, Love Doctor, which was inspired by her own love story. “My partner was in the US for a period of time, while I was in Jamaica, and I just wanted to be next to him so bad. I wrote him a love note, and he immediately flew down to see me, fulfilling my wishes. After sharing that story with my friends, they told me to turn it into a song.”
MANIFESTATION
Shuga believes deeply in the power of manifestation, revealing that she saw herself doing this show and spoke about it with her manager and friends, telling them what she would do if she got even 10 minutes on a stage like that.
“Then just weeks before the event, I got the call. Can you imagine how magical that felt? I was super excited,” Shuga shared.
Preparing for Rock Away Valentine’s involved thoughtful planning and with guidance from Donovan Germain, Shuga, knew she could sweeten the deal by bringing familiarity and more love to the opening for the event. And she delivered.
After leaving the stage, Shuga received high praise from none other than Beres Hammond who told her, “Nobody nuh affi tell me nothing, ah Shuga dis and you mash up the place. Well done.”
Reflecting on the performances from Sean Paul, Shaggy and Beres Hammond, Shuga said that she “became a student of the stage” as she watched them bring their A-games.
“So, the lesson I take away from just observing them is once you give your best, you’ll leave lasting impressions. People will want to see you again and again. This is the reason these gentlemen have careers spanning generations and decades. The man of the hour, the ‘Don’ Beres Hammond brought the show to another level. Every single person was singing along … the UBS Area was alive with the sounds of music. I can honestly say the patrons got their money’s worth,” she said.
Shuga is excited for what’s next and that includes her upcoming, Snow Cone-produced single, Feel the Fire and her début album, which is produced by Penthouse Records in partnership with VP Records.
English (US) ·