Reggae gospel artiste JoZee grew up with Sicily in her blood and Chicago on her doorstep, but by the time she got to her teens, it was reggae music which had already possessed significant real estate in her mind and heart. Fast forward years later, and it is the subgenre reggae-gospel that is the principal tenant in the mansions of Jozee’s heart.
Years ago, Jozee blew audiences away with her very first track, the reggae gem ‘I Won’t Last a Day Without You’, which has since amassed 78,483 streams on Spotify. Since then, Jozee has honed her craft with the release of several powerhouse songs and has now evolved into a more experienced artiste. She demonstrated that acumen with the October 6th release of ‘Who God Says I Am’.
This album is the Italian-American artiste’s fourth release and her first full-length reggae-gospel project. Produced by Haldane “Danny” Browne of Main Street Records, the 15-track collection features Prodigal Son, Papa San and DJ Shepherd.
Its central question concerns identity and faith. Its musical roots, however, stretch back to a little girl discovering Jamaican records. Standout songs include the title track, Who God Says I Am and the excellent ‘Oh Me Oh My’ on the Diwali riddim.
“I have loved reggae music since I was a little girl,” JoZee said, recalling Third World’s 96 Degrees in the Shade as an early favourite.
She delved deeply into the annals of reggae to consume the works of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Jacob Miller and Marcia Griffiths . Her listening widened to include Eek-A-Mouse, Barrington Levy, Yellowman, Super Cat and Shabba Ranks.
“It’s (reggae) been my favorite genre of music and I’ve always dreamt about recording reggae music,” she said.
Reggae shared space with a remarkably varied childhood soundtrack. Around her parents’ Sicilian restaurant, JoZee heard Frank Sinatra and Pavarotti alongside Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand and Marley. Musical boundaries were evidently not on the menu.
She began performing at nine, later studied music at DePaul University and secured a recording deal with Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records. Yet the ambition to record reggae remained unfinished business.
A Christmas visit to Jamaica in 2023 finally supplied the opening.
Browne, a longtime friend of her husband, invited her into his studio while the couple were staying at his home. An informal session soon acquired a more definite purpose.
“Before we knew it, we had written and recorded the very first song for my album,” she recalled.
Browne helped shape her approach to the music, reminding her to “stick to the melody” and “ride the rhythms”. For a singer fulfilling a long-held ambition, his exacting ear proved an asset.
“Danny always knows what to do to get a heartfelt performance out of you,” JoZee said. “He’s a perfectionist, and his ear is impeccable.”
The partnership also brought together cultures she regards as having much in common.
“Sicilians are very proud and passionate people just like Jamaicans,” she said, pointing to shared values surrounding food, family, respect and hard work.
With contributions from established gospel voices Prodigal Son and Papa San, alongside DJ Shepherd, Who God Says I Am places her Christian message within the musical tradition she has loved for years.
The title turns towards a source of assurance beyond the usual industry scorecard of streams, followers and chart positions. JoZee’s concern is how faith shapes a person’s understanding of who they are.
For the Chicago girl raised on Sicilian hospitality and Jamaican records, the album brings several strands of her life into the same studio. The reggae dream has taken its time; she has finally put her voice to it
