Dancehall artiste Tellah is calling for more consciousness from female artistes in dancehall music.
“I’d love to hear more consciousness coming from the women in dancehall music. Too many of us are singing songs about our private parts and what we do in the bedroom. I know there is a big market for slack songs but what are we really teaching the children when we record these types of songs? What kind of messages are we sending to our own kids”?
She continued, “When I just started out in the music business a lot of people encouraged me to record slack songs. Although I did not take their advice, I recorded songs that were suggestive, and my stage performances were raunchy and sexually provocative. However, as I got more mature, I decided to move away from that kind of music. I am incredibly happy that I made that decision because the songs that I record now are positive and uplifting and I love that.”
Tellah is in an upbeat mood as she promotes her new single titled ‘Thank You Jah’ which was released in February on the All-Spikes Production label.
“I am getting a lot of positive feedback from my fans about this song. Everywhere I perform it I receive a good response. I am eternally grateful to all the DJs who are playing it in Jamaica, Europe, the UK, Africa, and other parts of the world,” she said.
Tellah came to national attention after finishing third in the inaugural staging of the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall talent show in 2009.
Some of Tellah’s other songs are ‘Peace and Love’, ‘Mother’s Cry’, ‘Divine Love’ featuring Capleton, ‘There’s a Green Hill Far Away’ featuring Lukie D and ‘I am Not My Scars’.