Initially cautious about their differing musical styles, Alaine, the former investment banker with J.P. Morgan Chase, was pleasantly surprised by Dexta Dap’s enthusiastic commitment to preserving the essence of her original composition for the track ‘See It Yah‘.
“It all started when I recorded the song,” Alaine began, reflecting on the genesis of their collaboration. “Dexta heard it and reached out to me, expressing his belief that it could be something truly special if we worked on it together.”
The prospect of a joint effort intrigued Alaine, especially considering their distinct approaches to crafting love songs. “We had collaborated before, but this time felt different,” she shared. “While we always co-wrote the songs, ‘See It Yah’ presented a unique opportunity for us to blend our individual styles seamlessly.”
“I remember joking with Dexta, saying, ‘You and I sing very different kinds of love songs,'” Alaine recalled with a chuckle. “But he assured me that he would honor my vision and record it just the way I wrote it.”
The true magic came alive when Alaine finally heard Dexta’s vocals on “See It Yah.” “I was blown away! His voice added an incredible depth and soulfulness to the song, taking it to a whole new level of artistry.”
The music video for the song, released a year ago, has now amassed over 1.5 million views on YouTube.
“Dexta is incredibly talented, and collaborating with him was a true privilege,” she remarked. “His passion for music and dedication to his craft shine through in every note.”
Alaine’s music continues to make waves across various platforms, from Asia to the Caribbean, with “Bye Bye Bye” reaching #5 on the iTunes chart in Anguilla. In Brunei Darussalam, “No Ordinary Love” secured a spot at #53 on the Apple Music chart, while “Make Me Weak” and “Deeper” followed closely at #54 and #55, respectively.
On Sunday night (April 28 2024), the songbird headlined Smirnoff Unplugged, treating the audience to a journey through her extensive catalog.
Set atop the roof of the R. Hotel in New Kingston, the evening unfolded into an intimate rendezvous with the songstress delivering a soul-stirring medley of her own hits and classic R&B melodies.
With raw emotion, the 45-year-old singer seamlessly blended Keisha Cole ballads with her own songs “Sincerely In Love” and “Sacrifice” and skillfully merged Sza’s “Kill Bill” with NVasion’s “Dem Gyal Yah Wicked,” with a contemporary twist that delighted the crowd.
Another standout moment occurred when she playfully embraced her single status, laying bare her vulnerability as she explored the complexities of love through song. Then Alaine paid homage to her past relationships with an emotive rendition of “Me coulda never make it without you,” before delving into a repertoire of R&B classics. From ballads like “First Cut is the Deepest” and Lauryn Hill’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low” to soulful melodies such as “No No No” by Dawn Penn and “No Disturb Sign” by Beres Hammond, the jam session was about love, loss and celebration, as Alaine plots her 2024 musical comeback.
Among her upcoming releases, she says is a track on Kemar ‘Flava’ Mcgregor’s Recoup Riddim titled ‘God We Love You’ as well as the Troyton produced ‘One Of One,’ and ‘Pile Up’ produced by Usain Bolt.
