5 Questions With ... Shuga

Eleven years after winning the Digicel Rising Stars competition, Mitsy Campbell, better known as Shuga, has embraced another musical challenge. She entered the 2020 Jamaica Festival Song Competition and has been selected as one of 10 finalists. For her, the pride of being a finalist in this particular competition is almost tantamount to winning. The Montegonian, whose entry is titled One People, has been receiving positive feedback for both the single and the video and, of course, is urging fans to vote for her.

Signed to Donovan Germain’s Penthouse Records Label in 2010, Shuga enjoyed much success with singles such as Complicated Love, 9.58, Give My Soul To Jah, Ride Di Riddim, Ebony (a 2014 Black History Month tribute), In Deh, Seal Up Again, and Crime Scene (Johnny Dead). Throughout her career, Shuga has collaborated with an impressive line-up of industry greats, including Sly and Robbie, Boot Camp Records, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, ‘Computer’ Paul Henton, Bugle, Queen Ifrica, Agent Sasco, Jah Snowcone, Riff Raff, Silly Walks Discotheque and the Scrucialists.

On March 8, 2019, Shuga launched her Femme Phenomenal Foundation, which is geared toward empowering and motivating young women to respect themselves and others and to speak out against violence, injustice, and abuse. She is also working on her Phenomenal Wombman album.

Shuga will be performing at the Jamaica Festival Song Competition final on Sunday, which will be broadcast live on TVJ and streamed across the globe. In-between rehearsals and preparations for Sunday’s last hurrah, 5 Questions With managed to squeeze in a quick chat with Shuga.

 

Did you ever dream of entering the Jamaica Festival Song Competition? How do you feel now that you have joined the ranks of Festival Song finalists?

I have always enjoyed Festival season, but I never thought about entering the annual contest before, and many of our current artistes probably would shy away from entering because they are afraid to have the title ‘Festival artiste’ attached to them.

I’m grateful to be a Festival Song finalist. The Festival Song Competition is a national effort, and I’m neither afraid nor ashamed to represent my country and culture in a positive way and be a part of something historic and set a good example like the ones who paved the way before my time so that generations to come will live to follow this tradition.

 

What are your plans should you win the competition?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all schools are closed, and as we know, online schooling is in effect. However, not many children are equipped with the tools needed for online lessons. I’m from Bogue Hill, New Ramble, in St James, and we have a newly built community centre that I would like to purchase some computers for. I want the children living there to have a chance to do their lessons and not be undereducated because of the lack of tools, so if I win the competition, this would be my project under my Femme Phenomenal Foundation charity.

 

Your ‘Black Woman’ single has seen you pay tribute to the I-Three. What urged you to do this?

One day, I was listening to the radio, and the DJ dedicated half of his segment to playing songs from females only, and it gave me an idea. I immediately felt compelled to put together a medley of songs from queens I grew up listening to. The harmonious, iconic I-Three are queens of reggae who are loved and emulated by many, but first and foremost, they are women in a male-dominated space, and I know how hard that can be. Listening to the song Black Woman by Judy Mowatt, I can tell it came from a real place, and so did Tribulation by Marcia Griffiths and A Jah Jah by Rita Marley. This tribute was put together by Donovan Germain and is a production of Penthouse Records.

 

What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?

One lesson I’ve learned from COVID-19 is to live and love now because forever is promised to no one.

 

 

How involved were you in music prior to entering Digicel Rising Stars?

Well, I was singing background vocals for and touring with Tanya Stephens for almost five years before entering the competition and stepping out on my own.