Etana

Singer, songwriter, and humanitarian Etana is a powerhouse vocalist and 2x Grammy Award nominee.

It has been over a decade since her debut as a reggae artist when she established herself as a recognized and respected entertainer. Born Shauna McKenzie, the young talent migrated to the United States where she briefly pursued a pop music career before rediscovering her roots as an adult and adopting the moniker Etana, meaning “The Strong One” in Swahili. The return home spurred the evolution of her sound, and it's evident in her body of work expressed as the fusion of folk, soul, jazz, and Reggae. Etana taps into the likes of Marcia Griffiths, Etta James, and Miriam Makeba for harnessing a deeply emotional sound, and she is the modern embodiment of their influence.

In 2008, Etana debuted the album, The Strong One, featuring various musicians and producers. The project reached the #12 spot on the Reggae Billboard chart and consecutively released singles by VP Records, which helped introduce the spirited singer to the world. Lyrical hits “Warrior Love” and “I Am Not Afraid” made a lasting impression, as did “Free” and “Happy Heart” from the second album, Free Expressions, notably a repeat Reggae Billboard chart climber. Not to be outdone, she released her fourth album, I Rise to much acclaim, nabbing the #1 spot on the iconic chart, marking the first female artist out of Jamaica to earn such a designation for seventeen years.

Fast forward to 2018, when Etana released her first Independent album produced by her company, Freemind Music: “Reggae Forever.” The album soared to #1 on the reggae billboard charts as she headlined a tour through the United States. Etana became the first female to receive back-to-back number 1 albums on the Billboard Reggae Charts. A few months later, Reggae Forever was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category. The nomination by The Recording Academy marked the first time in over twenty years that a woman was nominated in the category. In 2019, she released the eight-track EP Dimensions, then a full-length album Gemini released in 2020. Her latest album Pamoja (2021), earned Etana her 2nd Grammy Nomination. The album features Vybz Kartel, Damian Marley, and Stonebwoy, and has acheived tremendous success with over five million streams, earning Etana yet another Grammy nomination.

Etana continues to tour the world sharing her message of love and positive light!