A lot of Jamaican viewers first knew her as Mel from Trabass TV. Now she goes by SEWELL, and her latest single puts her on a track with a Marley.
The song is called ‘So Divine’, and it pairs the Jamaican singer with Ky-Mani Marley, the Grammy nominated reggae artist who has also built a name as an actor.
Early buzz suggests the collaboration is landing well with listeners who have followed her shift from screen personality to recording artiste.
The name change is a big part of this story. Moving from a familiar online persona to a new stage name is a deliberate signal, and SEWELL seems intent on being taken seriously as a vocalist first.
She has long been recognised for her voice and her personality, and this release leans hard into the singing side of that equation.
Lining up a Marley as a duet partner is a confident way to make that point. It also gives her a shot at reaching ears well beyond the audience that knew her from Trabass TV.
For Marley, ‘So Divine’ adds another entry to a career that stretches back decades. A son of Bob Marley, Ky-Mani picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album with ‘Many More Roads’ in 2001. He earned another in the same category for ‘Maestro’ in 2016.
He has spent time in front of the camera too. Film fans will remember him from the cult Jamaican crime drama ‘Shottas’ in 2002, and he also starred in ‘One Love’ the following year.
That mix of experience matters on a record like this. A veteran voice can steady a duet and give a rising artist something solid to play off, and by most accounts the two voices sit comfortably together here.
Behind the boards, the single was produced by LMR and mixed by Obanga. The sound leans into smooth, melodic reggae rather than anything aggressive, built around soulful vocals and a relaxed groove that lets both singers breathe.
The chemistry between SEWELL and Marley is the selling point. Their styles are distinct, yet the track blends them into something warm and easy to return to.
SEWELL describes the collaboration as a meaningful milestone and a chance to share her artistry with a wider audience.
She is open about being proud of her Jamaican roots, and she says she wants to make music that connects with people at home and abroad.
That balance between local identity and international reach is a familiar goal for Jamaican artistes. Plenty chase it, and few manage both without losing something along the way.
There is a reasonable question hanging over projects like this, though. Some listeners will want to know how much of SEWELL’s own voice comes through when she shares a track with someone carrying a surname that heavy.
Her answer, at least for now, is to keep building. She talks about carving her own path and bringing authenticity and elegance to her sound, and ‘So Divine’ looks like the first real test of that.
Fans who made the jump with her from Trabass TV are already asking what comes next. No follow up has been announced yet, but the Marley link has clearly turned more heads her way.
