Shuga interview on Colourful Radio 24-November-2024
Shuga Bio
In 2009, friends and family encouraged Mitsy to audition for the Digicel Rising Stars competition. She took a leap of faith and was introduced to Jamaica and the diaspora as Brown Shuga. That decision proved to be a pivotal move in the development of her young career. The televised national competition brought her into the homes and hearts of Jamaicans every week; allowing her to showcase her vocal abilities, effortless versatility, endearing personality, and contagious energy on stage. She won the competition, thus opening the doors to her new life as a professional recording artiste.
Freshly crowned with the title of 2009 Digicel Rising Star, and signed to producer and artiste manager Donovan Germain’s Penthouse Records label, Mitsy was on a mission to bring only the best to the people who had supported her budding career. Her primary aim was to establish her talent globally.
She poured heart and soul into publishing her own singles such as “Complicated love”, “9.58”, “Give my Soul to Jah”, and her Black History Month Tribute, “Ebony”. She also positioned herself as a sought after stage performer and was invited to do collaborations with reggae heavyweights such as Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt with a “Tribute to the iThrees”, Sly and Robbie, Silly Walks Disco, Boot Camp Records, Queen Ifrica, Bugle, Agent Sasco and Bling Dawg – to name a few.
Her live stage performances brought her face-to-face with her growing fan base and placed her on Reggae’s biggest stages, such as: Rebel Salute, her hometown’s Reggae Sumfest, Europe’s Reggae Jam, and Rototom Sunsplash.
Like so many before her, Shuga entered the music industry with little knowledge of how to manage her endeavours as a business, despite her many years behind the scenes. All she knew was that she had a love for music and a desire to sing.
The expectations, uncertainty and rigours of the industry took a toll on her, and she took a break to do some introspection, reflection, regrouping and reconnecting with her purpose. She found new joy in love, family and motherhood and returned to the scene dropping a new single entitled “Dear Mr. Government”. This song is still creating quite a stir, as it brings a global, poignant message about the treatment of the disadvantaged.
In 2020, Shuga was a part of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition as one of the top ten finalists, with her song “One People”, sharing the stage with Reggae giants Buju Banton and Toots Hibbert. She placed second when she re-entered in 2023, after her performance at the Grand Gala with her entry “Dancing Same Way”.
Current single
Jamaican artist Shuga released her latest single, “Love Doctor,” on November 7 via VP Records. Produced by Donovan Germain on the “Boxing Around” riddim, this Lovers Rock track taps into the deep emotional yearning for love, presenting it as both a remedy and a source of comfort.
The accompanying music video, directed by Kenny Gray, features a medley that includes Shuga’s cover of Cornell Campbell’s “Boxing Around,” highlighting contrasting views of desire through both songs. The video will be released on November 7.
Debut Album Release
Shuga is poised to release her first full length album entitled “Girl from Bogue”. It is a Penthouse production and will be released in partnership with VP Records.