Gospel Star winner eyes EP Gospel Star winner eyes EP

After being named the 2023 Jamaica Gospel Star, Oral Lawson is still basking in his achievement and has indicated plans to launch a full EP in 2024.

Lawson won the title at the Grand Final of the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition that was held at the National Arena on August 2. The event formed part of a slate of Jamaica 61 Independence events, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

Along with the $1-million prize money, Lawson, who goes by the stage name 'Suite Boss', will receive voice training and the opportunity to release a single with an accompanying music video.

"I really relish getting the exposure [in the music industry] ... I have been doing music for a while now, going into studio doing work and jingles ... . When I heard about the Gospel Star Competition, I thought, here is the opportunity to get the 'Oral Lawson' brand out there, to let persons know how I minister, and I believe this is the season. My voice is now out there and the audience has been giving really good feedback and they want more," Lawson said.

"Short term, the goal is to work on the single and video with the JCDC. Long term is to get more music out here there. I have a single called Soldiers for Christ and another called Harvest," the 32-year-old Lawson explained.

"An EP might be easier to do than an album, so I am working on an EP, and something called 'my story' ... even if it's six tracks. The goal is to get my first album out close to the end of 2024 ...close to my birthday when I will be 34 years old. I will be 33 in November 2023." Lawson, who is also a motivational speaker, toastmaster, singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, added.

The Jamaica Gospel Star Competition is a rebrand of the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition. Ten finalists competed and after each performance show, the decision who to eliminate was based on a 50-50 split between the at-home audience and the judges' scores. Judges brought back Lawson using the Saved by Grace Feature, as he was voted out after episode two.