Left: Female sensation Tami Chynn   Right: Singer Tessanne Chynn - file photos

Tessanne is the fresh soulful voice of a new generation of Jamaican musical talent.

Her sultry fusion of dancehall and reggae with edgy rock mixed with the honest heartfelt lyrics she pens, create a musical style that is entirely her own.

Her exceptional vocal talent and her exotic look give her unmistakable stage appeal.

The 22-year-old has already opened on stage for such musical greats such as Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack, Atlantic Star and Boyz 2 Men and has toured the world as a backup singer with the reggae legend Jimmy Cliff for three years.

"I always knew that I was gonna end up singing or have something to do with music, but touring gave me a chance to really test the waters, to know my limits.... more than anything, it just fired me up even more to get out there and want to do my own tour," Tessanne says.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Tessanne was introduced to music at a very early age by her parents.

Her mother was the trumpeter/singer in her band called the "Carnations" in which her father was the drummer.

Tessanne started her stage career when she was six years old with Cathy Levy's "Little People and Teen Players Club" one of Jamaica's top performing arts schools and received most of her vocal coaching from mother and also from noted vocal coach Lecie Wright.

New life

Tessanne learned about cultural diversity firsthand when she moved to England at age 12.

She devoted a lot of her time to song writing to express her feelings about her new life in what was to her, a completely different world.

Upon her return to Jamaica, Tessanne joined the Jamaican Rock Band, "Mile High" and performed for crowds at numerous local venues, including the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Rock Fest, and RETV Unplugged.

Tessanne comments "it was during this time that I came out of my shell vocally and performance wise, I learned how to really and truly sing in a different way.... my way."

Tessanne decided to continue on the path of singing her own songs; she left Mile High to pursue a solo career and work on the tracks for her upcoming debut CD.

With producer, and friend, Rudy Valentino and Paul Kastick.

Song writing for her is a very real, organic process...just some note paper and her acoustic guitar.

Her debut single Hideaway has been getting heavy rotation on Jamaican radio as well as select stations in New York.