Words are sometimes hopelessly inadequate - as is the case in attempting
to sum up the dynamism, talent, achievements and magnetism that is
Althea Stephanie Hewitt.
Its a journey that goes back to her earliest
childhood, but blossomed during her days at Camperdown High, where she
performed throughout her school days. It's a journey- inspired in no small part
by her parents, especially her musician Dad, Stephen - that has
this far taken her to stages across the world, and not just as a singer.
Throughout Europe, North and South America and even to the Micronesian island
chain of New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory some 750 miles east of
Australia.
Not confining herself to merely belting out tunes, Althea has also
exercised her talents as songwriter, actress and model. She has been a member
of the renowned troupe, Tribe Sankofa, and has featured in several productions,
including " Hairpeace" and "Positive", and gone a step
further to produce her own presentations ("Intimate at Studio 38").
Her leadership qualities served in good stead during her stint as
leader of the award-winning group 4th Street Sister that
not only dominated the Jamaican cabaret scene for years through numerous
performances at Jamaica's finest hotels and other venues, but helped to
re-establish the female vocal group as a viable musical concept in the Jamaican
setting. 4th Street also released the singles "Long Way Home" and "Still
the One".
Her natural effervescence, consciousness and vocal and performing
prowess have, unsurprisingly, brought her to the attention of many seasoned
performers and producers (the late Fattis Burrell, Boris Gardener, Bunny
Wailer, Bushman and Ernie Smith to name a few) and also by representatives of
corporations, Governments and other institutions as not only performer but
motivational speaker. One such experience was at the beautiful hotel Le
Meridien in Brussels, Belgium where she represented Jamaica presenting the
country's cultural export, reggae music in a classy elegant atmosphere through
a JAMPRO and Air Jamaica project as top chefs from Jamaica prepared sumptuous
Jamaican cuisine.
Althea poured her manifold experiences into a
successful debut compilation, "Introducing Althea Hewitt” which yielded
the tracks "Boom Boom Boom" "Unconditional Love" and
"Save Me" among others. Building on that foundation, she came
"Stronger" in 2019 - the name being the title of both her follow-up
album and a powerful hit single - witness the lines:
“Stronger, I’m a
fighter reaching higher to where I’ve never been before.”
Summarizing her
songwriting approach, she says, "I feel that I have a responsibility to
set a positive example, so when composing my lyrics I would like to cover
subject matters concerning the affairs of women...... By concerns I mean how
other female artists have had to survive in the music business, how we as
female artist see our communities and the children in those communities....how
we inter-react with the men in our lives”
Musically, she is the complete package, deftly incorporating reggae,
pop, r&b and jazz as well as her extensive training in pop and classical
vocal stylings with several leading vocal trainers plus voice and speech,
acting, and dance courses from the renowned Edna Manley College of the Visual
and Performing Arts.
Althea has a firm belief in
education and growth. She says, “My greatest inspirations come from the
Almighty God”. She currently produces her own shows, songs and engineers from
her home studio. Althea is a
consistent vocalist. Her services are available for Corporate Functions, Vocal
Consultant, Online Audio Engineering for Background Harmonies, Dub Plates,
Barbecues, Private Functions, Funerals, Birthdays, Weddings, Studio Harmonies,
Festivals and Private (in home) Vocal tutoring.
For performances,
dubplates, bookings for festivals, or any of her creative talents, please email
althea@altheahewitt.com.
https://www.facebook.com/altheashewitt
No comments:
Post a Comment