CHERINE ANDERSON / Cherine Anderson Mixtape #2
I celebrate being sexy, I celebrate being independent, being feminine, being street, being rebellious, being very intelligent and being conscious and I think the modern-day woman - and I do consider myself that - are all these things, so Cherine and Dancehall Soul is the same, where street meets sweet, where all these different genres meld.Street sweet is how she be id-ed on Jamrock, succinctly capturing the essence of this young Jamaican songstress who came to prominence in two dissimilar films about contemporary island life. One was One Love (2003). For that tropical star-crossed lovers story she played the part of the innocent sixteen-year-old ingénue, church girl attracting and attracted to rude boy Kymani Marley whose celluloid character and real life reputation as a Marley bad boy merge to produce a classic good girl/bad boy romance story. In Dancehall Queen (1997) she played the role of a teenage daughter struggling to fend off the unwanted and sinister attentions of a much, much older uncle. She clearly has a second career in cinema awaiting her, but meanwhile it’s her music that is the top draw.
—Cherine Anderson
Q. Did you land a role in both films Dancehall Queen and One Love by an audition or direct connections with the movie producers?A month shy of two years ago on BoL, with both admiration and much respect, I wrote at some length about Cherine’s budding career. Her reggae groundation and stated musical objectives are all there. If you didn’t catch it first go round, you might want to pick up on it now as you enjoy this latest Mixtape.
A. I actually auditioned for both roles. I knew there were a few young ladies that were considered for the part of “Serena” in the movie One Love. My manager Patrick Lindsay was contacted about the project, and after a few meetings in the UK with producers of the film and an evaluation of the script, I auditioned for the part. I must say that my work in Dancehall Queen was what brought me to the attention of the film’s producers. In addition, we also decided that we should pursue the musical aspect of the movie. After reading the script, I really loved the character of “Serena”, so I wrote and recorded the song “This Angel” which we submitted to the producers for consideration. This was a great opportunity to satisfy both my passion for acting and singing in one project.
Q. In the film One Love, your character was “Serena”. Tell us; are there any similarities between this character and you as a person in real life?
A. Both “Serena” and Cherine love music. We are both from a very strong church upbringing. That being said, I am a lot more outgoing and exposed to the realities of life than my character “Serena”. I think I have a greater sense of style (smile). I love clothes that celebrate my femininity, I love colors. Also my parents are very supportive of my decision to become an artist in the entertainment industry.
—Cherine Anderson interview
We open her second BoL Mixtape with “One By One,” a Kymani Marley duet from the One Love soundtrack, and continue with “Soon Forward,” Cherine’s contribution to a recent Gregory Isaacs tribute album. We follow with “Turn It Up,” a ruff and rugged dancehall single that understandably created quite a stir. And then from her debut Street Anthems Mixtape there is DJ mix of her classic “Kingston State Of Mind.” All the other selections are from her 2010 JA 9.25 Mixtape.
By the way, keeping up with the latest trends in music promotion, this new Mixtape is available as a free download on Cherine’s website.
photo by Rico Kinnard
Listening to and loving her sound, I always wondered about how the street forward sensibility was mated to personal awareness and social consciousness. Her love songs are more than fantasies and wishful dreaming. Her message songs are as sensual as they are serious. I wondered how this wise reasoning came to manifest in one so young. The answer was environment and education.
She was born so far across the tracks the trains don’t pass that way. She know tough not in the abstract but as a daily empty bowl experience; she know tough as in murder seen not just on TV but right outside the window; she ah really know as a fly young girl the tough of negotiating around all the male predators of multiple persuasions and expertise who were not just mama-say boogie men talked about to warn daughters in hopes of saving them from ruination but rather Cherine has faced the street corner and board room romeoes who constantly accosted her as she walked to school and as she sang in church the choir. With Cherine, street smart is not an act; her knowledge is the result of environmental education.
She decided to create her own musical branding and labels her music Dancehall Soul.
But that’s only the half of it. I knew she had gone to college but I didn’t realize the extent of her education until I ran into an interview in which she broke it down.
Peppa Pot: How did u get involved in acting?
Cherine: I was a part of Ashe Ensemble so I was always doing everything. I was a singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. I did the whole package it was theatre that is my training.Peppa Pot: Were you schooled in Jamaica?
Cherine: I was schooled in Jamaica; I was also schooled in the U.S and Japan.Peppa Pot: Tell us about the Jamaican schooling.
Cherine: I went to Excelsior Primary, Wolmers, I did a year at Edna Manley, a year of 6th form at Queens, then I went to Middlebury College in Vermont and then I spent a year at Keio University in Tokyo.Peppa Pot: Tell us about the achievements. I know you have a lot of achievements.
Peppa Pot: Do you speak Japanese fluently?
Cherine: (Laughs) I hold a Bachelors of Arts in Film and Music, concentration Japanese language and literature.
Cherine: I wouldn’t say fluent, I would say proficient; I have lost a lot of it since I haven t been there for the last two years.
—Cherine Anderson interview
Like literally millions of her global fans, I want to know when is she going to drop a debut album. She has given us goo-gobs of singles that have stuck to the top spots on charts regionally and featured with Michael Franti and Spearhead, they had a top ten single in the USA. Plus, she writes her own music, i.e. much more than three chords and a clever hook. Cherine finds ways to articulate specific situations emblematic of her generation. Once again, the answer displays a maturity rarely found among aspiring entertainers newly breaking into the big time.
Q. Before anybody makes it to the top in this entertainment business, they go through so many different transitions. One is working with different producers. How many record labels have you signed with since you started your singing career?
A. I am not currently signed to a label. I am working independently. We are in the foundational building stages of my career. My management believes it is very important to address our core Jamaican and Caribbean audiences. When time comes to take it to that ‘next level’ then we will shop for a distribution deal, but for now we believe it’s more important to create good music and gain credibility through performing for my core audiences. I’ve had the opportunity to perform at some of the biggest reggae festivals in the world. I’ve played at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl to more than 17,000 people. I’ve also been blessed to be a featured vocalist on my first North American Tour with Sly & Robbie. I’ve recorded on songs with multi-platinum and award winning artists like Paul McCartney, Sting, Bootsy Collins and Wyclef Jean to name a few, and this year I had my first number one song and video “Coming Over Tonight” with Chuck Fender. Chuck has been very supportive of me as an up and coming artist, and I really appreciate that. Nuff respect goes to Chuck Fender!! I am truly just having the time of my life and feel blessed for every opportunity.
Q. Is “Princess of Dancehall Soul” a self-proclaimed name?
A. Dancehall Soul is the type of music I make; it’s a mixture of reggae, dancehall, soul & R&B. It incorporates the grittiness of my past and the sweetness of the things I’ve been exposed to. My management came up with the “princess” title.
—Cherine Anderson interview
Clearly this princess is destined to be a queen.
—Kalamu ya Salaam
Cherine Anderson Mixtape #2 Playlist
01 “One By One” – One Love Soundtrack - Cherine Anderson & Kymani Marley
02 “Soon Forward” – We Remember Gregory Isaacs 
03 “Turn It Up” – Ressurrect Rhythm 
04 “Kingston State of Mind DJ Mix” – Street Anthems Mixtape
Mixtape JA 9.25
05 “9.25 Intro”
06 “Make Up Sex”
07 “The Breakup Song”
08 “Honorebel”
09 “Cabbin Stabbin”
10 “Fade 2 Black”
11 “Eagles & Doves”
12 “We Don't Stop”
13 “Lyrical Murder”
This entry was posted on Monday, October 17th, 2011 at 8:04 am and is filed under Contemporary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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