By Nathelie Taylor, Gleaner Writer
From left: Nyanda, Nailah, and Tasha. - ANDREW SMITH/Photo Editor
A story of rags to riches. At least, that's how sexy sirens of dancehall music, Brick and Lace, describe their rise to fame. It's almost magical really.
IN ONE instant, they're regular teenage girls doing mundane household chores. In the other, they're gorgeous young ladies on stage captivating the audience with powerful lyrics and suggestive moves.
In the mid to late nineties, while most other girls were simply enjoying high school, three Thorbourne sisters in St. Andrew Tasha, Nyanda and Nailah had their sights set on stardom.
Nyanda, 23, illustrates. "We used to watch a show called Rags to Riches and we used to copy that show working and singing at the same time. We'd pretend we were the girls in Rags to Riches. That was our dream."
Tasha, 25, adds, "Our house is actually the noisiest house on the block. We'd just be doing our chores and we'd be singing or writing a song. It was a way to escape the chores."
GROWING UP
Thus Brick and Lace was born, and, has since had its fair share of growing pains. It has taken a while before the fickle Jamaican audience appreciated the group's talent, but 2004 seems to be their coming out year. While 'growing up' they had opportunities to work with well-known acts like Beenie Man, Diana King, Papa San, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths and Roberta Flack. The girls have also worked with multi-Grammy winner Lauryn Hill who they met while in Miami.
The trio gives props to Bounty Killer. The DJ, who like them is signed to the Sharon Burke-led Solid Agency, collaborated with them to record Bad Boy on the Thrilla rhythm. "He is a great person. He is very intelligent, very charming, very professional. Not cross, angry or miserable but approachable, and respectful to women. We respect him so much."
SUPPORT SYSTEMS
While a lot of the group's success can be attributed to their hard work, the ladies also credit others with what they have so far achieved. Nyanda, the group's 'sing-jay', gives special kudos to sing-jay pioneer, Diana King. Their parents have also been pretty influential in their career, as Tasha elaborates. "They are very supportive. They believe in the talent and they've always said 'if we didn't think you could, we'd have told you.' It's actually our mom who pushed us on the stage. The first time we sang on stage was at a church barbecue and I was probably like nine or ten. I didn't even realise that I could sing at the time, but people enjoyed it and it started from there."
Most importantly, Brick and Lace supports itself. The ladies agree that their musical journey has been made easier because they are sisters working together. "It's not an easy business, it's a very competitive industry. But, we are sisters at the end of the day and that comes first."
CREATIVE
Creativity is etched in their souls. They were each introduced to the arts at a young age and are former members of the Jamaica Music Theatre Company. "We have always been performing or doing something creative," they explain. Songwriting is now the main avenue for that creativity as the girls have penned most of their eight tracks to date and distance is no hurdle to this creative process. "I remember once I was in Miami," Nyanda recalls with a laugh, "and they were in Canada and I sang the idea over the phone and they wrote the second verse." Each sister also plays an instrument. Nailah a past students of St. Andrew High, is a guitarist, Tasha plays the keyboard while her Campion College compatriot Nyanda tinkles with the triangle.
That creative streak extended beyond the realm of the stage to influence their scholastic efforts. While at college in Miami they each majored in programmes connected with the creative/media industries. Tasha studied Advertising, Nyanda pursued Advertising and Theatre while Nailah majored in Marketing.
SEXY ROOTS
In an industry where it's easy to become a 'has-been' Brick and Lace tries to be unique. The fact that it's a female group with a blinding girl-power aura is an indication of that quality. They have also created their own special vocal blend 'sexy roots' a fusion of international sounds held firmly by their strong reggae roots. "It's a mixture of all the influences that we've had. From artistes like Whitney to Bob Marley to more contemporary acts like TLC, Mary J. Blige mixed in with our dancehall heritage."
So they sound good. But, what does 'Brick and Lace' represent? "The first meaning is feminine strength. As Jamaican women, we are very strong, but we still like to have that lacy, fun side to us," says Tasha. This 'feminine strength' is reflected as much in their music as their fashion streak usually colourful, but not necessarily colour-co-ordinated. Their sense of style is as fun, bold, sexy and 'rootsish' as their sound, with striking shades of various colours often combined to shocking yet chic effect. Their music, which "helps people to just escape and feel free," reflects their fun side well. But don't be fooled by such seeming flippancy, because "we're not just soft. We kinda have a little hardness in it." Nyanda sums it up nicely when she quips with a smile, "We nice, but we not so nice."
INDUSTRY ISSUES
Light moments during the interview do not overshadow the intelligence, candidness and passion with which the ladies speak on many issues affecting reggae/dancehall music. One such is their survival in a male dominated industry. They admit that initially some male entertainers saw them only as 'pretty, uptown brownings,' and naturally hit on them. "You know they going to try, and as women we have to be prepared for that, but you have to put your foot down and know your standards and yourself." Regardless of these attempts, the sultry entertainers say that "when they really see how we write, they realise that we have something. We know what we have to offer and the men in the industry see that. They take us seriously and they give us the props that we deserve."
Nailah adds: "I think that's how you get your respect in the industry. Instead of flirting and trying to sleep your way through, you have to make sure your music is 'up there' because it's so competitive."
Brick and Lace represents women. Their songs largely portray females as winners and they have seemingly become quite credible advisors to young women wanting to enter the industry. Nailah urges new acts to be "mentally ready" for the challenges while Nyanda advises that a young singer "find that platform where you can display your talent, then get yourself a good manager." Tasha warns them to "Just go for it, but be prepared to work hard. Don't expect anybody to give you handouts." While she encourages young entertainers though, Tasha also has strong words for female artistes who play the hate game. "I think we need to just stop the foolishness. We just need to stop the cattiness and start supporting each other so we can rise up."
They haven't experienced any cattiness from female acts specifically, but they've had their own unlikely cross to bear. Light complexioned with striking faces and shapely bodies, all three women are alluring and this has been both a help and a hindrance as Tasha explains. "It's a little bit of both. Our looks may have helped us but at the same time, because we're uptown brownings, they hold it against us. We have to prove ourselves even more, try to prove our street cred to get that respect that we deserve."
Nailah adds emphatically: "But, we're representing Jamaica. We are Jamaicans! The music shouldn't be about where you come from. We're all Jamaicans at the end of the day and if you are talented then go ahead. Music is music."
The sassy team also feels that artistes need support from the industry itself. "The industry is not doing enough to support artistes. For instance, you have these hip-hop artistes who form various alliances to propel rap music. We should see that more in dancehall especially now that we've seen how popular we can get internationally. We should make it more lucrative so that we won't have to be going to foreign record companies."
They too have caught the attention of international record labels but they are tight-lipped about details. They readily admit though that they have been feeling the love from the Jamaican audience. Their fan base is extensive, crossing racial, gender and geographical borders.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Brick and Lace has carved a comfortable niche in reggae music and has the credits to show. The video for Done It To Me premiered recently on ER on Television Jamaica and their new song SWOT Sexy Women On Top on the Military rhythm is doing well. They have performed in several countries and have a fan base that spreads as far as Iraq. In December, they travel to France for a short tour, they are presently adding new songs to their already hot repertoire, an album is expected to drop by early next year and they are considering a video for Bad Boy. With all these accomplishments, the girls are primed for mega stardom no longer a teen dream, but a very conceivable prospect.
