Etana performs for charity

Etana, one of Jamaica's popular vocalists, gave a stirring performance at the St Luke's Anglican Church annual fundraising concert Reggae, Jazz and Blues Go Gospel, at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College on Sunday.

"It is giving back, and I heard that the church feeds a lot of hungry people and they fill prescriptions. They do a lot of stuff every day, and they feed them two times for the week as well, and I figured, why not," she said about her decision to perform for charity.

She told THE STAR that there were two reasons for her absence from the Jamaican stage in recent times.

"I haven't because, at the end of the day, I want to perform how I want to, and I don't want to cut my fans short. That's part of the reason. And the next is I have been doing a lot of touring and promotion outside of Jamaica."

The tour is to promote her Reggae Forever album. She said the promotion and tour will continue. "We have Guadeloupe (in May and June) Europe, and then back to the US."

Meanwhile, when asked whether she would perform at such a concert again, Etana said it is unlikely.

"I don't think I would ever make it a thing to do because my music is reggae, and a lot of gospel people might not be into my music. Even though the only thing in my songs is that you have to put God in it and it becomes a gospel song. The musicians usually tease me and say the only thing you have to do in all your music is to put God in it and it becomes a gospel song. I know a lot of people don't see it that way. So I would rather stick to doing reggae, and that's it," she said.