Female producers still battle misconceptions

Sonia Pottinger ruled the reggae and rocksteady music scene by recording some of the genre’s best names, including The Melodians, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy and Judy Mowatt.

She made an indelible mark between the ’60s and ’80s, but very few females have managed to match her standards.

Like female artistes who are often judged by their male counterparts and the general public, female producers tend to face harsher criticisms and challenges.

Up-and-coming producer Halie Dixon said, “The criticisms were and always are expected, but because I have an appreciation for music, I used that as my motivation, knowing that I could add my own flavour to it.”

The self-taught producer says there are not many female professionals taking on the behind-the-scenes roles in creating music, whether locally or internationally.

“I follow Missy Elliot as a female record producer based overseas, and on the local scene, The Wizard, daughter of lovers’ rock singer Beres Hammond, is a refreshing talent,” she said. “I really do think the industry is becoming more appreciative of the rare find that is female producers.”

Dixon, who turns 27 in June, made her debut three years ago when she registered her Ragz to Richez Production label and released her first project, Can You by Macka Diamond.

Since then she has worked with Devin Da Dakta and Vershon.

“Honestly there is no clear-cut way to determine if the criticisms are lighter for male producers, but ... there are artistes that want to charge unrealistic sums of money to record on rhythms which they would not dare mention to a male or established producer,” she said.

Challenges

Another challenge she has faced is the misconception that there is a male that does the work. She shares, “Upon hearing Ragz to Richez, everyone assumes I am involved in marketing, but that I am not the actual producer and that it belongs to a male.”

Tawanna Jones, wife of deceased reggae artiste Cleon ‘Mineral Boss’ Jones, and owner of Mineral Boss Records, says individuals, mostly males, automatically assume that the label was owned by her husband.

“He was the artiste and I am the producer, but he handled most of the communication in the Caribbean while I did the US, since I am based in Florida,” Jones said. “The point at which it becomes challenging at times is because there is a lot of favouritism in dancehall, and established artistes, specifically males, don’t want to give female producers the ‘bly’.”

She said that as part of her efforts to stay current, she works with younger artistes and more females than males.

One such project that she is preparing to release is the Lottery Winner rhythm, which features Raine Seville, Renee Six Thirty, Lisa Hyper and Macka Diamond.

“My only advice for up-and-coming female producers is to avoid distractions and promises. If persons believe in your music, it will speak for itself,” she said.

Meanwhile, DJ Sunshine of Yellow Moon Records noted, “Everything in life has its challenges and they are not unique to gender, but it is also how you deal with them. I am yet to encounter an artiste that prefers to work with a particular gender, but how one believes in their product will determine and define one’s success.”