Etana Says She’s Working On Final Album

Reggae singer Etana has announced that she’s working on the final album of her music career.

The Strong One briefly explained that she has managed to create waves with her independent projects, and wishes to leave a lasting impact before she takes a bow. 

“I did four live albums, and the first one I did independently was nominated (for a Grammy) for the first time out of all the other ones that I did and then I did it a second time,” she told a packed audience following her set at Sunday’s staging of Red Rose For Gregory at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew.

“I’m looking forward to presenting people with not just the possibility of being nominated, but with something of substance and value that they can keep forever.”

In 2008, Etana released her debut album, The Strong One, under VP Records. It featured her breakout hits Wrong Address, I Am Not Afraid, and Blessing with Alborosie.

Three more albums followed under VP, namely Free Expressions (2011), Better Tomorrow (2013), and I Rise (2014).

She then went independent and released Reggae Forever (2018) under Tads International, and Dimensions EP (2019), Gemini (2020), and Pamoja (2021) under her own Freemind Music imprint.

Reggae Forever and Pamoja earned Etana two Grammy Award nominations for Best Reggae Album.

The singer is in the midst of a legal battle against VP Records, in which she has accused the company of breach of contract and copyright infringement, among other claims.

In December last year, a New York judge dismissed nine of Etana’s fourteen claims. In January 2023, the Wrong Address singer filed an amended complaint with eight claims against VP.

Etana is also currently on her Reggae Date Night tour, which began on May 11 and will run until August. Stops include sections of the United States such as Houston, Baltimore, California, Washington, Arizona and Nevada. There will also be an appearance in Canada, France, and Amsterdam.