Sista P delivers EP

Reggae artiste Patrice 'Sista P' Chang has released The Beginning, a five-track EP that underlines her artistic commitment to being a "change agent".

"This album was inspired by the goal to create a blend of genres and songs with solid words of hope, growth, and intentionally clean lyrics to foster a tradition of ethics and morals in our societies. It is a mission worth pursuing in music," she said. The music on The Beginning is a compilation of sounds from her early years and pays tribute to her musical influences which mirror her experiences in Africa, the Caribbean and the United States. The EP's lead track is Jah Is Calling, which is inspired by the biblical scripture Romans 8:28.

"The song is a call to answer your core-filled purpose and to allow the goodness within you to direct your steps towards doing good deeds. This call can change your course and provide you with the drive to create sustainable lifestyles and fulfil His divine will," she said. The EP is released on the C.O.A.S.T. label, which is a partnership with world-famous jazz musician Akili Jamal Haynes.

Sista P was born in Manchester to a family that included mento music great Theodore Miller of the T Miller Band and her father, Godfrey Chang, who carried her to rehearsals and performances. He later sent her to the US, and Sista P graduated as a trained vocalist from the world-famous Fiorello La Guardia High School of Music and Arts in New York City, where she studied classical, jazz and gospel music. She pulled closer to her reggae roots during her visits home with cousins, including singer Aaron Silk. Later, she served the Ministry of Education in St Lucia and worked with musicians such as Francis Delima and Ras Bonte.

Sista P previously released a collaborative EP Dream Catchers with producer-artiste Mili3RD, which includes tracks such as Hold On, featuring her cousin, Moses.