Hear Me Now
Album Out Now In Stores
One Woman Army
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Vocalist,Songwriter Producer and Actress Isha Bel is reggae music’s journey woman living out her vision to breathe life into the songs that fill her nightly dreams. She has been the dark horse in music since her re-emergence late 2012 churning out potent songs and cutting roads across continents. The undeniably talented Isha Bel possesses a powerful metallic voice, reminiscent of the soulful sounds of the early days of reggae, balanced by the raw gritty energetic delivery of modern urban sounds. Her vocal prowess has her winning a following across the world. She is often compared to the members of iconic reggae group,The I Threes ,Phyllis Dillon and Tina Turner.
The consummate creative has found a comfortable niche around roots reggae and digital dub scene and sometimes ventures in other areas of Jamaican music . Isha Bel lives and sleeps music, writing and producing songs for herself and other artists such as Chaka Demus, Ras Vuyo of Ghetto Sounds label / Azania Band ( South Africa) and has co-written with Jimmy Riley and Yellowman. She has a growing catalogue with labels such as Sud Sound System ( Italy ) Conscious Sounds(UK) Addis Records, Joy and Happiness Records, Scotch Bonnet Records, Roots Hitek ,Black Jube, Idlers Corner Records ,Gold Bar Records and on her own label Kalinga Records.
Isha Bel born Natalie Walsh music is fuelled by stories of her life growing up in the rough and tumble environment of East Kingston, Jamaica. She and her 5 siblings were raised by working class Christian parents. Her deceased father is her greatest inspiration. He was a singer who played gospel tapes and sing in church . She too was greatly influenced by the potpourri of sounds coming from the community such as the drumming of Mystic Revelation of Ras Tafari , Super D soundsystem playing the latest songs, the chants from Miss Birdie Poco Church.Though Isha Bel lived a sheltered life, the social ills that plagued her community would come close to her door steps . .She found solace in the pen and paper and had a knack for social commentary poems such as Michael Smith’s "Mi Can’t Believe it ' To the chagrin of her parents she ventured in the music industry juggling university and a 9-5 job at the local newpaper Jamaica Observer. The music eventually won.
Through her label Kalinga , Isha Bel has released several projects, these include her latest single Second Nature and the 2020 album Hear Me Now ( One Woman Army ). Isha Bel brings to the ears of listeners higrade vibrations , poignant, unapologetic songs of inspirations and consciousness. Hear Me Now was well received earning excellent reviews from Jamaica Star , Vision Newspaper in Canada,WorldAReggae and Reggae Reviews and more . Reggae Record Japan’s download store selected it as “Album of the Week”. Hear Me Now also made the Reggae 2020 Grammy Consideration List. She was also nominated in Reggae.Fr Intl Female artists of the year category.
BIOGRAPHY
Her first professional experience came with girl group 4th Street Sista recording and performing locally and internationally,. stints include Reggae Sumfest , face of Minigon contraceptive radio and print campaign , cameo appearance in One Love movie which starred Cherine Anderson and Kymani Marley. After the group disbanded she did short stints as backing vocalist touring with acts such as Warrior King and Iley Dred and LMS. Later came stints with RAS Micheal and the Suns of Negus and in present time a recurring gig as back ground vocalist touring with Chaka Demus and Pliers. She co-founded Road Dog Production label with Hopeton Hibbert Son of Toots Hibbert with several productions released worldwide and partnering with South Africa reggae label Ghetto Sounds including albums by Jimmy Riley and Yellowman. She stepped away from the public to pursue personal goals.
After a lengthy hiatus and through the urging of friends she re-emerged as Isha Bel to the music scene . Isha Bel is her spiritual evolution , her vehicle to heal and awake consciousness through music .She bartered with musicians singing harmonies while they would play riddims for her creations. She got an invite from Caveman studios to harmonize 4 tracks on Sizzla’s Grammy shortlisted album THE CHANT. She recorded a couple songs on Caveman label such as Domestic Problems , No call the Police, Peace in my house. She won Irish & Chin 45 Sound Clash radio competition with the song Nuh Call the Police. Through an alliance with Wild Life and Caveman, The 90’s show Reggae Kulcha Shock was revamped into monthly band showcase in 2013. She also promoted other shows such as Reggae Roots at the Essence and co -ordinated the double album launch of American singer Burt Herrin.
Wild Life’s introduction to Unrulee Records in the UK sparked the interest of Conscious Sounds (UK) and open the flood gates to other labels such as Sud Sound System, Idlers Corners and Addis Records.Numerous songs were recorded and released on digital and vinyl such as Bless Jah Holy Name, Blessings, Locks Grow, Cost of Living Vinyl EP. Wider doors opened in France Switzerland. Cost of Living ep was picked up by BBC 1xtra and received regular plays by David Rodigan , Couleur 3 fm in Switzerland. OBF Sound (FR) released Lightning and Thunder Mixtape featuring Isha bel and Wild life. The mixtape received tremendous support and feedback from reggae lovers in Europe and later followed up with the Lightning and Thunder Europe Tour in 2017 performing in Switzerland, France Germany and Italy.
Isha Bel has also performed on numerous shows in Jamaica , the Caribbean and South America such as Irie Fm Marcus Garvey Festival, Canadian Reggae Music Conference, Jail Time is Waste time in Georgetown stadium in Guyana She has done several live broadcast performances on stations such as Irie Fm , Mello fm , Kool Fm, Coleur 3 fm in Switzerland Two of her most cherished performances include singing her composition Red Black and Green at the Jamaican Government official Commemoration Ceremony of the Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey at National Heroes Park and UNIA Jamaica/Costa Rica commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Marcus Garvey’s visit to Costa Rica . Marcus Garvey is one of Isha Bel’s greatest influence inspring her to be a change agent for her community and wider Jamaica.
Isha Bel uses her platform as an agent of social change giving back to her East Kingston community through her outreach missions Rescue Youths Ja sponsoring youths with homework assistance and back to school sponsorship.She also lends her support to other outreach organizations. She was given a certificate of appreciation by Rita Marley Foundation for her contribution to Annual Youth Public Speaking competition. That quest to be a difference has taken Isha Bel in the prisons such Fort Augustus and General Penitentiary with Stand Up For Jamaica . She is also part of the Theatre for Change collective created by Masani Productions ( Canada) tackling issues of gender based violence(GBV) and mental illness through the arts She played the lead of Sheba in the GBV Radio Drama To Sheba With Love on Bess 100 Fm. Other outreach mission include Co- Cordinator of Back to Niceness and Back to Fest in Majesty Garden ( Back to) with Creator Family from Guyana The 5 month long programme unearthed talents around the 3 miles area and raised funds to assist returning students of Majesty and Seaview Gardens with school fees and book vouchers . The emerging winners of Back to Niceness were rewarded with a month long tour of Guyana.
In recent times Gold Bar Records released her lastest single Greatness Feb 2022 . She also landed a collaboration with leading New york based music /sample company Splice featured on their latest vocal pack Dub Reggae feat Isha bel.She has written /co-produced 5 songs for Chaka Demus upcoming album From MI Heart with include his latr4st single Build Bridges.Isha Bel is also featured on two other tracks include Beautiful Place produced by Jah Screw for his ChaKa’s 2019 album entitled Success released by JetStar Records (UK) and Hold Me Tight for the Garrison Christmas compilation .
At this time Isha Bel main focus is completing RockFort Heart album the follow up album to Hear me Now album which she is still promoting. Isha Bel will give fans a deeply personal album which stretches the gamut of Jamaica’s music genres. Isha Bel states that “Music is my therapist. I will continue to be its servant and vessel for the universe and the creator to speak through’. She represents this fully through her rootsy and soulful rubadub style.
ARE YOU PRESS?
Publicist
Talisa Taylor
Taylor Made Events
Address: 78 Slipe Rd, Kingston, Jamaica
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 10 a.m. Tue.
Phone: +1 876-669-5634
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