'even the newest stars are honored'
Tessanne Chin
REAL NAME: Tessanne Chin
BIRTH DATE/PLACE:September 23, 1985, Kingston, Jamaica
Her voice comes from deep within. It pulls at your heart and gives you chills. The girl's got some serious soul. Tessa is best known as the lead singer of Mile High, Jamaica's most popular Rock band. As part of the band, she appeared at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival and RETV unplugged and helped introduce Jamaica to a "rock, Reggae" sound.
It was during her time in England that Tessa became enamoured with rock & roll, and the hard edged style certainly seems to fit her and her voice. Despite the obvious influence of Jamaican music - mostly Ska and Reggae - on Rock & Roll artists like The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and No Doubt, Tessa still gets some pressure to do more dancehall. But she's not giving in; a "roots, rock, Reggae sound" is definitely her thing. She even points to some early Bob Marley tunes that have a bluesy or rock sound, so she knows her choice really isn't odd. It seems that even as our music is influencing others, we're content to focus inward and have a one track mind about our music; sometimes it's almost as if we won't let our own music grow. But let's face it, you don't hear much rock on Jamaica's radio and so there's still the stereotype that Rock & Roll is just some serious heavy metal. Tessa's music will be sure to change this misconception.
Tessa hasn't had much trouble convincing others of her talent. In 2001 she tied for first place in the Divas in Concert with Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight competition. And then, of course, there's being lead singer in Mile High, which wasn't an easy task. The decision to step away from Mile High to pursue her solo career was a hard one for Tessa, but also one that she feels was natural. It wasn't easy for her to move on after sharing two years with the band but she feels like being on her own is part of her growth as an artist.
Her growth into a solo artist will not be instantaneous. For 2005, she expects to spend time writing songs, working on singles and getting her name onto everyone's lips by releasing 'underground' tapes and seeing the response she gets. And I'm sure she'll get a breathtaking response. Remember now, the girl's got some serious soul. Her voice and style I think would be a welcome addition to the cache of emerging female artists.
BIRTH DATE/PLACE:September 23, 1985, Kingston, Jamaica
Her voice comes from deep within. It pulls at your heart and gives you chills. The girl's got some serious soul. Tessa is best known as the lead singer of Mile High, Jamaica's most popular Rock band. As part of the band, she appeared at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival and RETV unplugged and helped introduce Jamaica to a "rock, Reggae" sound.
It was during her time in England that Tessa became enamoured with rock & roll, and the hard edged style certainly seems to fit her and her voice. Despite the obvious influence of Jamaican music - mostly Ska and Reggae - on Rock & Roll artists like The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and No Doubt, Tessa still gets some pressure to do more dancehall. But she's not giving in; a "roots, rock, Reggae sound" is definitely her thing. She even points to some early Bob Marley tunes that have a bluesy or rock sound, so she knows her choice really isn't odd. It seems that even as our music is influencing others, we're content to focus inward and have a one track mind about our music; sometimes it's almost as if we won't let our own music grow. But let's face it, you don't hear much rock on Jamaica's radio and so there's still the stereotype that Rock & Roll is just some serious heavy metal. Tessa's music will be sure to change this misconception.
Tessa hasn't had much trouble convincing others of her talent. In 2001 she tied for first place in the Divas in Concert with Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight competition. And then, of course, there's being lead singer in Mile High, which wasn't an easy task. The decision to step away from Mile High to pursue her solo career was a hard one for Tessa, but also one that she feels was natural. It wasn't easy for her to move on after sharing two years with the band but she feels like being on her own is part of her growth as an artist.
Her growth into a solo artist will not be instantaneous. For 2005, she expects to spend time writing songs, working on singles and getting her name onto everyone's lips by releasing 'underground' tapes and seeing the response she gets. And I'm sure she'll get a breathtaking response. Remember now, the girl's got some serious soul. Her voice and style I think would be a welcome addition to the cache of emerging female artists.
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RWW FASHION FEATURE - 'BRIDGET SANDALS'
Novia McDonald-Whyte - Contributing editor Jamaica Observer
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Sandals designer Bridget say "Bridget sandals" in Jamaica and fashion watchers, as well as lovers of sexy leather straps, will smile the smug smile of those in the know. It has been, for Bridget Brown, (known by thousands as Bridget), a journey of twenty-odd years. The fact is, the leather soles of her sandals almost left her barefooted on several occasions. "It took me three years," Bridget tells SunDay to get my feet off the ground. I paid the price for not going to school. I had to endure artisans not cutting the leather properly, bad work attitude, sabotage, you name it, I went through it."
A baptism of fire, some might be tempted to add for the former Playboy Bunny. "I was a bunny between 1972 and 1977 at the Playboy Boscobel Beach," says Bridget, flashing her signature toothy smile, and still conscious of that bunny poise.
"Playboy was forced to close (no tourists were coming to Jamaica). I was forced to come back to Kingston. I had to find some means of survival. My first stop was G's One of a Kind -- an upscale boutique that sold one-of-a kind Italian shoes and clothing. I left that in May 1981, after Bob Marley's death. I sold pound-cloth for Carmen Brown of Karmen's Corner. "There I was with my scale underneath my arm, and my cushions at my side. I really never wanted to make sandals. I also made skull caps and crochet bags."
Start she did and never looked back. Bridget even found the time and finances to attend school in Milan. "I went to school out of curiosity. I wondered if I was doing something wrong. Little did I know that I was in fact doing something right. My customers are happy, the sandals are fitting right, and I, too, am satisfied. I admire what I am doing."
No idle boast. Bridget Sandals were on the runway at New York Fashionweek, and Caribbean Fashionweek. Bridget Sandals are in Barbados, St Kitts, Antigua, Lincoln Avenue, South Beach (Miami), in the Village (New York) and at Controversy -- Battersea London.
Come next season, there's the possibility of a shipment to Japan, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Dallas.
"You have to be skilfull to survive. It has been a 20-year fight for survival. It's a struggle to maintain quality, confidence, style, craftsmanship. Finally, you have to have integrity in business."
As the chat comes to an end and Bridget does that Bridget walk towards her taxi, and there's a feeling that the very best is still to come from this beautiful sister.
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