Tanya Stephens kick-starts acoustic series

Outspoken reggae artiste Tanya Stephens provided an interactive and conversational set that went well beyond two hours as she kick-started the D5 Acoustic series at the District 5 restaurant of the R Hotel on Sunday.

With her magnetic stage presence and poignant lyricism, Stephens exceeded expectations of an intimate evening of musical enchantment, setting the tone for what should be a memorable series of performances. The acoustic series will continue on the last Sunday of each month.

Proudly revealing that she is 50 years old, the These Streets singer had the audience in a frenzy, singing hit after hit which still wasn't enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite of her fans. They kept shouting the titles of their own personal favourites, prompting her to ask, "You hear your song yet?" as she dipped even further into her extensive repertoire, amid shouts of "We want more".

Getting the assurance from the audience that she was in an adult, guilt free space, Stephens explored many storylines and topics including infidelity with songs such as Man Pon The Side and Home Alone. This continued with fan favourite Rescue, which details freeing men who are trapped in toxic relationships with stressful women. But she soon balanced the storyline by singing Tek Him Back in which she details her regret of taking away another woman's man, while begging her to reclaim him. The 'shortcomings' of some men was also a popular topic on the night as some tracks aptly described the size of the male genitalia.

While performing, she provided interludes and expressed her gratitude for platforms like District 5 which aim to contribute to the renaissance of acoustic music in the entertainment space.

"I really appreciate you guys, unno always a do spaces like this and every time dem do it, a me dem call fi come open it up. So mi a start fi get the feeling that dem think me a one open up gal ... for serious though, I want you guys to keep coming," she shared.

" Unno naw get no more Tanya inno, a one a me. So tek that however you want tek it. Tek it outta my ego, tek it anyweh, but a one a me and the next person wah a come next month a one a dem too," she encouraged.

Operations manager of the R Hotel, Kimesha James, explained that the inspiration to create an acoustic series for live performers was the desire to provide a platform for talented musicians to showcase their skills in an intimate setting.

"Acoustic performances have a unique charm and authenticity that resonates with audiences, and we wanted to create an opportunity for both performers and patrons to experience the magic of live music in a special way," she said.