One of the more powerful voices in reggae and dancehall of the 1990s is Chevelle Franklyn. Her first song “Nice and Naughty,” was released in 1992, she then scored major collaborations with hardcore Jamaican DJs such as Shabba Ranks with the hit “Mr. Loverman“, Spragga Benz, and Lady G. Her biggest song “Dancehall Queen” with Beenie Man (1997) was used in the Jamaican movie of the same name, but shortly after its release Franklyn left the secular music industry and went into gospel music and never turned back.
The vocal powerhouse caught up with World Music Views® and the Island Music Conference for a quick chat about her career in music, what made her convert to christianity and she has some advice for young girls in the music business.
Chevelle Franklyn, we haven’t seen you in years remind people who you are?
Well I am Chevelle Franklyn from out of Jamaica, my first song was decades ago then we ventured into “No One in the World,” “Mr. Loverman,” “Dancehall Queen,” and one bag a song. But in 1998 I became a born again christian to pursue the work of God and I am still here ain’t going anywhere.
What have you been up to since Dancehall Queen?
Dancehall Queen actually came out 1997 and I got saved 1998 so I had to just drop the whole promotion and pursue the call of God on my life ever since I have been doing tonnes of conference in the U.K., I have been frequent all of Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, Canada and I have been active doing God’s work.
A lot of artist from you era complain that record labels didn’t treat them right, are you one of those people?
I had a “good manager,” and I had some good people around me. I wouldn’t say record label didn’t treat me right. As far as I am concerned me leaving was about the call of God on my life to do God’s work. It was more important because I was losing bits of myself – my purity. one of the things about the secular arena is it will actually take your soul. I am telling you, you start out a good girl and it take pieces of you and I really did not want that to happen. So I just ran to God, I ran to him in the same year when Dancehall Queen was blowing up the place but I didn’t leave because anything was happening. I ran because I was afraid to lose my soul, the Bible say ‘What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?” and it was more important for me to be a ‘born again’ christian that to pursue the things of the world.
Now that you are much older and wiser, do you think you could redo the industry and still maintain a presence?
I think there is nothing wring with motivational music because anything the world needs now especially Jamaica, we need to find songs to motivate young people to grow. Jamaica needs that, the world needs that. That is also the Lord’s work.
Do you have an album out and where can they find it?
“I have three gospel albums; “Joy” produced by Dannie Brownie, next one is called “His Way”, and the other is called “Set Time” and I just did a worship album in South Africa and tis gonna blow your mind, its out sometime this year. They are on every digital platform.
What advice do you give to young girls and artist who are coming into the business?
Do not sell your soul for popularity, once you open the door for compromise its hard to close it. Keep your dignity and just know that it will pay off. I know that there is so much temptation, I know that there is so much distraction around you and you want to be the next big thing now but the reality is later in life you look back and see ‘look what I had to do to gain this’ and you realize it wasn’t worth it. Believe in yourself!
Watch full interview here
