Fashion designer turns music producer

Fashion designer Jenelle Thompson is stepping into a new field, that of record producer.

The US-born entrepreneur of Jamaican parentage is now fine-tuning what she describes as her seven-track reggae dancehall EP, with some of the biggest names in reggae music, including Grammy-winning producer Delly Ranks. The project features one rhythm, with several artistes recording their own songs.

This project, she hopes, will not only promote her A' Legends brand, but raise the standard of reggae music.

" I am not yet ready to reveal the full slate of artistes on my debut EP, but I can tell everyone that they are well accomplished," said Thompson.

Concerning the EP's theme, she said, "This is a party, fun-loving-flavoured riddim which will lead us into the Christmas season, which is a period when we set aside all the hard work through the year and just enjoy ourselves. We need to refresh our mind and body for the next year."

Thompson explained that her desire to challenge male dominance in music production inspired her to enter music production.

"Everybody feels being a record producer is a man's job; I don't. So, there are a lot of women who are simply afraid to enter this field because they believe they will fail. I will not forget my deceased father saying to me, 'Jenelle, don't be afraid to hit as many stars as you can'," she said.

Thompson said that she has many friends who are record producers, and she is often in the studio learning like an apprentice to voice artistes, laying a good

track, mixing and mastering.

"It was April of this year, a friend of mine mentioned being a record producer and I thought about it seriously, "she said.

"I knew exactly the type of riddim I wanted to work with; an authentic reggae beat, high tempo with a lot of dancing vibes, and one which can easily cross over. It was so easy to get the artistes because all of them are my friends who have supported A' Legends over the years. I also hope to do music videos to accompany each song," she said.