The New York-based artist’s second album, ‘The Real Thing’, was released in August. It is produced by Danny Breakenridge of Upstairs Music, an independent company in South Florida.

‘Journeys’, her first album, came out in January, 2022 and blended Neo-Soul, Jazz and Rhythm And Blues. ‘The Real Thing’ is straight Reggae.

Hassanah attributes living in Nigeria, Germany, and New Zealand for her eclectic appreciation of the arts.

“The opportunity to travel as an artiste is invaluable. I’ve picked up so many musical ideas and influences from different cultures. Travel also allows you to experience in real time the saying that ‘music is a universal language’,” she said.

Previously, Hassanah and Breakenridge worked on a cover of Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’. ‘The Real Thing’ has four covers, including of Sade’s ‘By Your Side’ and ‘I Heard it Through The Grapevine’, a Motown classic made famous by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight and The Pips.

Hassanah, who describes the album as “uplifting but also contemplative”, wrote the title track and ‘Brighter Day’. Breakenridge chipped in with ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’ and ‘The World is A Stage’.

Reggae, the Washington DC-born artiste disclosed, was part of her introduction to music.

“I’ve been listening to Reggae since I was a young child. My parents always had it playing in the background as I was growing up and in Nigeria, it was very popular and was on the radio all the time,” said Hassanah.

(Photo contributed)