‘Singing cop’ branching out as an artiste

Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) sergeant and popular vocalist Nashchique is answering another call — to music as she branches out as an artiste with a string of singles and plans for her debut album.

Known to many as the singing policewoman, whose performances with the JCF band have repeatedly gone viral, Nashchique is now determined to establish herself as an artiste in her own right.

“I’ve never given up any aspect of myself. The truth is that you have people who are divergent, they can do multiple things and they’re good at all the things that they do,” she said.

For Nashchique, music is much more than a second career.

“I don’t want to look at it as just a craft, but it’s really something very personal and inspirational to me,” she said.

Born in Kingston and raised in Spanish Town, St Catherine, the 36-year-old began singing about age 10. Her journey with the JCF started in 2010 while she was a civilian and student at The Mico University College. After leaving there, she was invited to perform with the JCF band. Whenever the organisation posted her performances, she said, they often went viral. But for years, she was simply sharing her talent.

“I was just utilising my talent, basically, and not really delving into my personal craft at that time,” she explained.

That changed last year when she began recording her own music. Her first single, Never Let Go, was born from an unusual experience while in New York in December 2024.

“I just woke up and I went to the restroom and I remembered the chorus of this song,” she recalled. “Then it dawned on me that I actually dreamt the words of a song and wrote it down.” She eventually recorded the song with fellow musician and police officer Mr East 5 East.

Nashchique describes her music as reggae and lovers’ rock, with songs grounded in real experiences and emotions.

“I’m very much into people and love and not necessarily intimate love. All my songs are based on real life experience,” she said. “I want the music that is timeless. I don’t want to do songs that blow up today and persons totally forget about it by tomorrow.”

Policing, meanwhile, continues to shape her perspective. Working at the Police Emergency Communication Centre, where 119 calls are received and personnel deployed, has exposed her to the demanding realities of the profession.

“Music, for me, is therapy. [If I have] a day that is really tiresome or strenuous, whether mentally or otherwise, that is where I unwind or unload,” she said. But balancing both worlds comes at a cost.

“Time has been the greatest sacrifice for me. Music takes a lot of time. Policing, as you know, you work on a schedule, you do not have full control over your schedule,” she said. “I have to just be consistent and say that I too actually do my music, because I don’t want for it to interfere with policing.”

With Never Let Go, Wait in Vain (a cover), Prince Charming and When Is My Time already released, she is building towards a debut album next year, and she wants her journey to inspire other women with multiple talents.

“If you really feel that you have another talent or something else that you’re passionate about, just pursue it. You just have to learn how to create the balance.”