THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Etana

With a sound located between emotional soul and street-smart reggae, Etana (Shauna McKenzie) from Kingston, Jamaica has certainly made her mark.

After a brief period in the States (where she was studying) in a girly-girl band she returned to her homeland and concentrated on a serious music career when she embraced Rastafarianism.

Her debut album The Strong One brought reggae and folk tropes together, her second album was Free Expressions and for her third Better Tomorrow she recorded at Tuff Gong studio.

MIxing soul, r'n'b, pop and reggae, it reflects her many influences. And so it was time to have Etana -- who now lives in Florida -- answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.

The first piece of music which really affected you was . ..

Whitney Houston, Air Supply, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley to name a few

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

Hmmm embarrassing role model? None I'm a smart girl.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

That's too hard both, Nirvana, Madonna, Jay all the way.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Doctor

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . 

All I Need, Better Tomorrow and Reggae. [Ed note: all on her album Better Tomorrow]

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

Jamaica fifty box set from VP records with the history of reggae music on it.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

All You Need To Know About the Music Industry.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Ceelo Green.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

In Time, Death Becomes Her, Ghetta Life.

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

My album :) Better Tomorrow

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

We Are The World

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

Picture of Marcus Garvey or my first promo pic :)

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

Family names, birthdays or portrait.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

All over the world with different people and share travel time with family and relatives closest to me.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?

It's my best album ever because its all me, right here and right now, real to the very core and I get better each time. Well produced real reggae music by some of the best young musicians in Jamaica and one of the best reggae producers in Jamaica right now.