A new voice for new type of Bahamian music

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadetribunemedia.net

Up-and-coming singersongwriter Kezia Noreiga is one of the voices representing the evolution of Bahamian music.

Now, she is ready to release a new EP – an ode to her grandmother – and celebrating her new single, “Today”, a fun Summer tune inspired by Carnival.

Kezia (whose real name is Sasha Major) started her music career in 2020, and in August 2022 she got her first gig at the Studio Café. Last December, she dropped her first single, “AYCT”, which she followed up with “Today”, released this April.

When it comes to her style of music, Kezia describes herself as an “oddball”, because she doesn’t feel locked into just one genre. However, she leans towards a New Wave sound, with a sprinkle of soft rock and R&B.

“My music is really just a vibe and depends on how I feel when I hear an instrumental or melodies playing. I think over the years, the sound of Bahamian musicians and artists continues to evolve,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“You have the staple rake n’ scrape and soca artists, and then there are artists like Sherwood Rahming who evoke the Bahamian style folk music, but the delivery is transformed with a modern yet jazzy and afrocentric feel. Then you may have someone like Shabazz The Great, who is more inclined to give you passion, great energy and quick lyricism, but on a trap beat.”

Kezia is now in the process of preparing the release of her new “Lucky Girl” EP, which is a record dedicated to her grandmother, Casimar Merle Noreiga.

“The songs are a kind of ode to our journey as women, her life and mine,” she explained.

Speaking about her newest single, “Today”, Kezia said it was inspired by the Bahamas Carnival’s Music Competition. She wanted to create something that told a love story about finding your voice despite who supports you or not. While it can be considered a fun Summer party song, it also has a message: to not let the little things destroy your confidence and distract from your purpose.

“Keith Zanz did a superb job on the beat; the Afro-Caribbean, soca sound does not disappoint,” she said of the song.

“He is the producer for the beat. Jumpa at RockSound Records engineered and mastered the song, which makes the perfect combination.”

Kezia said she would love to make a music video to accompany the single, but unfortunately the funding is currently just not there.

In the meantime, however, she is happy that people are enjoying the tune.

“People can get a lot of dance moves in there. The beat and the flow of the song, whether you’re going to the beach or just hitting the road – it’s a vibe. You definitely want to hear more after the first listen. It all just makes me feel overjoyed that people love my music,” she said.

Local artists who inspire Kezia include Keith Zanz, Navarro Newton, Shabazz The Great, Alleon Rose, It’s Dia, Lapo Frost, and Sherwood Rahming; many of whom she has worked with.

“All of them just have remarkable creativity and work ethic, and provide great knowledge. They are dynamic and just a different breed of artists,” she said.

From the international music scene, she enjoys the late Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, Rihanna, Celine Dion and many other artists.

“For me, it’s not merely about how good you sound, but the vibes, the drive, and the message behind the music,” she said.

Moving forward, Kezia is excited to collaborate with Shabazz The Great, Alleon Rose and Keith Zanz.

“So the music is not stopping anytime soon, which I love,” she said. Kezia is also looking forward to travelling more to expand on her source of inspiration.

“You never realise how important travel and placing yourself in sacred spaces is, so I’d say one of my goals is to see the world and travel so that I can tell a new story from a different perspective to my listeners. My hope is that those who find inspiration in my music can feel it so deeply that they, too, are liberated and will be brave enough to have a vision this big, and pursue it,” she said.

Kezia’s music is available on all the most popular music platforms like Spotify, iTunes, and Tidal; as well as on Instagram, TikTok and SoundCloud at ‘Kezianoreiga’, and on YouTube on the Kezia Noreiga channel.