On September 26, Nakeeba Amaniyea will appear with Sister Carol at Ujamaa Health Foods in Brooklyn, New York for a listening party for their album, ‘Beyond The Sky’. The 15-song set was released one week ago by VPAL Music.

It is the most comprehensive project between the Grammy-nominated Sister Carol and her daughter, who previously collaborated on songs such as ‘Be Alone’.

For Nakeeba Amaniyea, ‘Beyond The Sky’ is “deeply personal for me.” The album is co-produced by their Black Cinderella Productions and YeYeX label.

“To be inspired and lifted up by my mother every day as an artiste is one thing, but to fully immerse myself in the creative process with her, intentionally working to produce something magical, was on another level,” said Nakeeba Amaniyea.

The duo share the mic on seven songs from the album including the title song, ‘Be Alone’, ‘My Jamaica’ and ‘Muma And Pickney Reunion’, a reggae take on Paul Simon’s classic ‘Mother And Child Reunion’.

‘The Questions (My Love’) and ‘Show And Prove’ are two of the four solo songs by Nakeeba Amaniyea.

“One of the most satisfying parts of this collaboration was being able to reference our shared musical taste in the same breath, discussing energies and vibes, curating mixes, and becoming even greater fans of each other’s artistry and approach,” she said. “We pushed one another with honest critique, while also celebrating the beauty of what we were creating together.”

Born in Brooklyn, Nakeeba Amaniyea soaked up her parents’ Jamaican heritage, by listening to classic reggae/dancehall and savouring their country’s cuisine. She also admired the sounds of hip hop acts like The Rootz and smooth jazz singer Sade.

Her biggest influence, however, is Sister Carol who made her name on New York’s sound system circuit in the 1980s before branching out a decade later as a recording artiste with labels such as RAS Records and Heartbeat Records.

“My mother is, without a doubt, the most influential musician on my artistry. I’m constantly engaged by her presence as a performer and recording artiste, and her consistency continues to guide me,” said Nakeeba Amaniyea. “To finally create something together with the intention of sharing it with the world felt long overdue.”

(Photo contributed)