Wendi won’t be boxed in

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WHEN you hear Bahamian songbird Wendi’s latest album, you will be listening to body of work from a woman who is unboxed to say the least, but one who has certainly matured, evolved, embraced femininity, motherhood, and “everything that comes along with that journey of becoming a grown woman”.

Wendi’s highly anticipated album Unboxed has finally been released worldwide. It will entice the ears of listeners, while also giving them music they can certainly groove to.

“The album is a long time coming. I’ve been creating and releasing a lot of singles, so I wanted to compile an entire body of work.”

Her inspiration for the album comes from maturing in womanhood and motherhood.

“I also realised that a lot of people placed me in a ‘box’. They think they have me figured out, that they know what I’m going to say, how I’m going to sound... and with this album, I wanted to break those assumptions. And break the mold is what Wendi has done.

“It is all original material written and produced by some amazingly talented young Bahamians. It is sexy, innovative, marries old with current, and also introduces some brandnew sounds and themes in the music. I am so very proud of it.”

Not only does Wendi break the mould, but she also pushes the boundaries with the visuals for her previous single “Tell Her Come”.

“The visuals that already accompany the 1st two singles are beautiful, and groundbreaking. We actually blew up a car for the filming of the music video for ‘Tell Her Come’.

I would like to take this time to give love and appreciation to my visuals team Jiggy Productions, Chris Seymour, Keval Williams Photography, Dyson Knight and Sherard of iFocusvisualsbah.”

As an artist, Wendi has carefully created the song in the order she believes the body of work would be best appreciated. She encourages listeners to enjoy the music chronologically.

“I curated the music in the perfect order for listening. When you buy the album, it will be in the order that I’d like the listener to consume it. However, of course you can enjoy the music in whichever order you’d like.”

While Wendi has extended an open invita- tion for listeners all around the world to enjoy Unboxed, she is also simultaneously promo- tion her new single release, “Slippery”, off the album.

Written by Grammy-nominated songwriter Anwar McDonald along with the songbird, Slippery is “sexy and groovy” and poised to become a Soca hit.

“It is a very sexy message or warning to male suitors about how to handle a woman. Most of my songs are on the topic of female empower- ment and Slippery definitely follows suit.”

Wendi is The Bahamas’ top female record- ing artist. Her entrance onto the Bahamas’ music scene began at the tender age of four years old and her re-introduction was born out of a need for fresh new artistry and innovation. Wendi represents female empowerment, sex appeal, powerhouse vocals, strength, and has been trailblazing for female artists in The Bahamas putting on dynamic live per- formances throughout The Bahamas and the region.

“This year, I am pushing the album Unboxed and all of the singles that are on it, as well as pushing a song called ‘Need It’. ‘Need It’ is on the Gimme More Riddim and it features myself, Soca superstar Nailah Blackman from Trinidad, USVI Superstar Adam O, and Christo, another amazing artist from Trinidad.

“I also have an amazing Rake & Scrape song called ‘Smart Boy’ produced by Freddie ‘Got- stykz’ Seymour from the Push Back Riddim. I hope that with this music, I can successfully propel my team and I to larger audiences and listeners who have never experienced our music before. I am also very very excited for the return of Bahamas Carnival this year as well as all the other performances that are already lined up and that will be booked. I also hope to be able to perform in some aspects of our country’s 50th Independence celebrations as well,” she said.

Wendi is also grateful for the team working with her to bring Unboxed to life including her producer, Freddie ‘Gotsykz’ Seymour, who produced all of the songs on the album.

“I want to thank him, Leonardo ‘Sniper’ Rogers, Dyson Knight and Anwar McDonald for taking this journey to Unboxed with me. You gents are very special to me. I love you with all of my heart,” she said.