Canadian reggae-jazz dynamo Chelsea Stewart is back with a new self-titled album and premiere single Forever Your Girl — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
A reflection of Stewart’s rich Jamaican-Canadian roots, Chelsea Stewart was mostly recorded in Jamaica with the help of iconic Grammy-winning artists Sly & Robbie and Canadian Renee Brown.
“I have probably been listening to music from Sly & Robbie since the day I arrived on this Earth,” she says of reggae masters Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. “They have been responsible for so many hits that still play on the radio, and at almost every celebratory gathering in my community. It was surreal to be able to work with these living legends.
“And Renee was able to travel to Jamaica and witness the growth of the production,” Stewart continues. “She helped with the songwriting and production for a few songs, and I was happy to share that surreal experience with her. Working with Renee has been the first time I collaborated with another songwriter, and I’m very proud of the results. She, like myself, is Jamaican-Canadian, and it was important for me to include Canadian content on the project so that the album truly reflects who I am.”
Much like previous releases, Stewart’s main creative partner was long-time collaborator and mom Karen Stewart. “Working with my mom to make this album was nothing new,” she says of their unique collaboration. “We’ve done this before on several singles and EPs. We know how to navigate disagreements and we enjoy singing along and dancing to the finished products in the studio, just as we’ve done at home with the recordings of our favourite artists for years.”
The full-length LP is a followup to her chart-topping Juno-nominated EP Genesis, and on the heels of winning multiple awards. Along with being the youngest artist ever nominated in the Juno reggae category, she is also the first Canadian female to perform at Rototom Sunsplash, the biggest reggae festival in Europe.
Listen to Chelsea Stewart below, watch the video for Forever Your Girl above, and keep up with Chelsea Stewart via her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
