Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Shermain Jeremy is used to having to teach others about the Caribbean. - Contributed

Antigua's Shermain Jeremy is positive that the success of Shaggy, Sean Paul and Rihanna is proof that her time is now.

She won the 'Most Promising Female Singer of the Year' at the 4th Annual Underground Music Awards held in New York and credits her success to the single I Came To Show You', which was remixed with Vybz Kartel. It has been getting airplay across the Caribbean and in America as well. Shermain's album My Way, My Style is set for an early 2007 release.

"My older brother is very involved in the music business and he knows Kartel's road manager. We talked for a while and he gave the song to Kartel who liked the vibe and he was excited to do it. He's usually a raunchy type, but on the single he's very fun. He's critical to the success of the remix," she said.

Shermain also admires other local artistes. "Sean Paul has broken through so many barriers. I love Buju. Kartel, he's just incredible, fun, love his music, style, presence, just everything about him. He's the top artiste in Antigua right now," Shermain said.

"We (Antiguans) basically listen to a lot of Jamaican music. Calypso is also popular," she says.

'Reggae pop' artiste

Shermain classifies her music as 'reggae pop'. "I use a lot of my Caribbean music, I use a lot of reggae in my music and lyrics. Coming out of the Caribbean, I need to use my roots in my music. Yet I don't want to categorise myself solely as a Caribbean artiste, but right now its my comfort zone".

Shermain is used to having to teach others about the Caribbean. The Miss Antigua and Barbuda World 2004, in 2005, Jeremy also won the Antiguan leg of the Miss Universe contest and, though highly favoured, did not make it into the top 15 at the international finals. It is her history as a beauty queen that has led to the career as a singer.

"Since Miss World it rekindled that passion in me," said Shermain who has been singing since she was 12 years old. "The pageant made me attack music more aggressively,"

And attack is what she has been doing. Shermain and her sister Sumita Jeremy started Tropic Gem Records early this year so that the songstress could fully spread her wings. Shermain says "it's an Antiguan-Caribbean label that's based out of New York. We started in January 2006 and we have our eyes on one or two acts in Antigua. The Antiguan music industry is not as developed like Jamaica. We're trying to put structural aspects in place. Anitgua needs more work and our label will give it more structure. The Caribbean has created such a buzz, people are ready".