Clive arranged an all-star team of the island's musicians to contribute to the set - including himself, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Grub Cooper, Handel Tucker, and Dean Fraser. The Jamaican singer-songwriter's melodic power blended with Clive's rich arrangements sets this album apart as one of the best throughout her stellar career.
Etana carries the torch as reggae's leading lady with this classic collection of love ballads and roots anthems. With her poised assurance and newfound strength, she evolves spiritually, mentally, emotionally and musically.
Whether she is shedding light on the harsh ghetto realities on "Trigger," "Ward 21 (Stenna's Song)" and "How Long," conveying romantic longings on "Richest Girl," "Love Song," and "By Your Side" or expressing her deep-rooted spirituality on the exquisite Bob Marley remake of "Selassie Is The Chapel," the Marcia Griffith's cover of "Stepping Out Of Babylon," "Emancipation," and "On My Way" - each of the album's tracks is delivered with her soulful conviction.
I Rise follows Etana's criticially-acclaimed albums Better Tomorrow (2013), Free Expressions (2011) and The Strong One (2008). Better Tomorrow was hailed by BBC as her "most seamless album to date and finest piece of songwriting yet" and Associated Press called it "mature and confident sound with top-notch lyrical content and unique vocals."
Free Expressions won praise from NPR for being "a rarity: music that sermonizes, yet still sweetly serenades," while Essence raved that her debut The Strong One exuded "poetic consciousness amid soul-stirring grooves rivals that of gifted neo-soulsters." Etana's I Rise is poised for equal success and will inspire, liberate and uplift a new generation.