MIRAMAR, Fla. — From singing in church with her siblings in Jamaica to touring Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, reggae artist Shuga has spent nearly two decades chasing a dream — and now it’s finally her time to shine as a solo artist.
She’s gearing up to release her debut album, Girl From Montego Bay, and fans in South Florida will get a first taste of her music this weekend at the Afro-Carib Festival in Miramar.
“I got started in the music business when I entered a talent competition in 2009,” Shuga said. “It’s a whole lot of different starts for me because before I entered the talent competition, I was singing backup vocals for one of Jamaica’s finest, Tanya Stevens.”
Music has been a lifelong passion for Shuga, who told Local 10’s Alexis Frazier that she grew up singing with her siblings in church and at home during devotions.
“It was always music. Even though I couldn’t see the path. I didn’t know how I was gonna get there,” she said. “It has always been that dream for me.”
Touring with Stevens exposed Shuga, whose real name is Mitsy Campbell, to new cultures and opportunities.
“When I worked with her, that’s when I realized that this dream might really be something because I’m actually seeing it with my own eyes. Somebody else is living their dream,” she said.
Now, nearly two decades later, Shuga is stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist.
Girl From Montego Bay is expected to drop later this year, though she hasn’t announced an exact release date.
“So presently we are promoting my brand new single Montego Bay, which was released in November. Montego Bay speaks about my hometown,” Shuga said.
The song carries more than just nostalgia — it serves as a message of hope, particularly after Shuga witnessed the devastation in Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa.
“It was frightening, I was there with my two sons, my mother and my father,” she said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that in my lifetime. That experience changed me as an artist. Changed me as a mother. It changed a lot of things.”
Shuga explained the deeper meaning behind her song.
“During that time, we found new meaning in the song because all my friends, family, everyone I knew — they were down," she said. “And I just had this thought: even though we’re down, regardless of the present situation, we have to rise and shine. We have to keep going. We found a new meaning in the song and we used it to lift Montego Bay.”
South Florida has been helping to rebuild hard-hit areas in Jamaica, and Shuga is excited to connect with the community here during her performance at the Afro-Carib Festival in Miramar.
“It’s gonna be an exciting time for me. Every time I meet a new audience, I get excited,” she said. “It’s part of the excitement for me, so I’m looking forward to February 28th. And I hope the audience will come out. I’m new to you guys, but come cheer me along, sing along, and let’s have a good time.”
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