Interview by Stan Evan Smith, senior music writer for Jamaicans.com.
At 29 Alaine (Laughton) hot, at the top of her game as female reggae entertainer she’s had more hit singles than any other female reggae artist this year. Alaine is the heavy favorite female singer of the year. She’s the perfect combination of beauty and multi talent she is also an actress, copping a role in the Whoopi Goldberg movie ‘Clara’s Heart. Tall and statuesque, she possesses a sweet and beautiful voice and, is songwriter with depth. Her music, like her talent is multi genre, combining Jamaican Dance hall/Reggae rhythms with influences of R&B/Hip Hop in writing and vocal arrangements.
At age nine Alaine was a Red Cross Ambassador. She’s studied classical piano and hosted a popular children’s television show, had roles in numerous Jamaican television programs and theatrical productions, and done commercials, and radio jingles. She has an honors degree in Management and Psychology.
Alaine while living in New York worked in investment banking and employed vocal talent recording with Roc-A-Fella recording artist, Cam’ Ron, on Live My Life (Leave Me Alone). She returned to Jamaica in 2004 and, working with Jamaica’s top flight producers like the acclaimed Sly & Robbie (No Doubt ) and Donovan ‘Don Corleon’ Bennett (Sean Paul, T.O.K) recorded with Beres Hammond and has been burning up the charts locally and internationally with hit after hit ever since.
Alaine like Tami Chyn and Tessanne Chin, Cherine Anderson Kris Kelli, Brick and Lace, Calibe, Etana, Altyah, Queen Ifrica, Macka Diamond, Carol Gonzalez and Irie Love are paving the future as they expand the frontiers of Jamaican music, where females representation has, for the first time, in several years began overcoming the gender’s under representation.
Her songs ‘No Ordinary Love’ (charted in New York, Florida, Japan, Europe and the Caribbean,) ‘Deeper’ and ‘Wine’ were featured on VP Records (USA) Strictly the Best Volume 35 & 36 series and on Greensleeves Records (UK)‘The Biggest Ragga Anthems, “Heavenly” and ‘Jah Jah Cry’ appeared on Green sleeves Records the‘Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems‘ while ‘Love Sound’, w/Beres Hammond was featured on Rhythm Doubles Sly and Robbie’s Grammy nominated Album. ‘Dreaming of You’ w/ Beenie Man, Rise in Love, I Love You w/ Busy Signal and ‘Sacrifice’ were hits around the world. Alaine has played at Reggae Sumfest (JA) the Caribbean and the United States. She’s toured high schools in Jamaica w/ other artists spreading the message of HIV awareness and AIDS prevention.
Sacrifice is the title of her debut cd.
Stan Evan Smith music writer spoke with Alaine about her career. Click here for full interview with Alaine.
Rainbow Variety Store | Lauderhill, Florida 