In 2014, when The Voice champion Tessanne Chin released her sophomore album Count On My Love, the record label deemed it a flop after it sold just 7,000 units in its first week — the lowest first-week sales for a Voice winner at the time.
“We asked to be released from our record company because it was pretty clear there was nothing further that was going to be done to promote it,” she told World Music Views.
By another measure, however, Tessanne achieved something no other Jamaican woman has done in the 21st century: she became the only Jamaican female artist to appear on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart — a record she continues to hold more than a decade later, despite numerous releases by other signed acts.
“Really?” she said with a laugh during her exclusive interview with World Music Views. “It’s ironic because when Count On My Love came out, it was made to feel like such a failure because it didn’t sell a certain amount. It’s kind of ironic.”
The album, released under Republic Records/Universal Music Group following her Voice victory in 2013, debuted at No. 41 and spent two weeks on the Billboard 200. During her winning season, Tessanne also charted three cover singleson the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 — another feat no other Jamaican woman has repeated since.
Her rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” charted in the final week of December 2013, following her Voice win. The following week, “Let It Be” with Adam Levine and “I Have Nothing” debuted simultaneously on the chart — marking the first time a Jamaican female artist achieved two entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same week.
Chin credits the decision to enter The Voice to Grammy winning deejay Shaggy, who encouraged her to seize the opportunity.
“It was Shaggy’s idea,” she recalled. “At first, I was hesitant. I thought, ‘A competition? Really?’ But thank God I didn’t let fear override that decision and had a fantastic opportunity to do The Voice…I had no intention or dream of winning, I just wanted some publicity to further things.”
With strong support from the Caribbean diaspora and soulful performances that captivated American audiences, Chin’s historic victory on Team Adam Levine led to a major label deal and collaborations with an elite lineup of producers — Supa Dups, Rock City, Diane Warren, and Toby Gad — culminating in her Billboard-charting debut album, Count On My Love. “The challenge was trying to produce an album within a very short time,” she said,
But the rush to meet television timelines created pressure.
“We had to release a single by the next season of The Voice,” she explained. “I remember there was a whip being cracked to finish everything on time.”
Redefining Success and Legacy
Chin headlined Shaggy and Friends that year to record crowds and her welcome home to Jamaican packaged included a private jet and tribute concert. She admits that the tickets of TV fame was overwhelming. “I blacked out some of it because it was too much.” Still she says there are benefits. “The consistency emotions that I felt in that time was first incredible gratitude, I couldn’t believe all of this was happening and the second one was absolute terror.”
She was well known prior to The Voice in Jamaica but says her supermarket runs became more strategic and she lived with the fear of not living up to other people’s expectations.
“It’s part of the industry — you just have to make peace with it,” she said. “That album helped build my career, helped me tour the world, and it still feeds me to this day.”
Now, her mission is less about chart positions and more about impact and mentorship. Her creative energy flows into Voice Box Performing Arts, a Kingston-based program she founded to nurture young talent.
“My heart is with Voice Box,” she said. “I want to help the next generation be better equipped to go further than I did.”
Through Voice Box, Chin and her team are preparing to launch a talent agency and expand into a full creative institution.
“It’s like going back to school,” she said. “I’m learning how to build infrastructure and systems. Our tagline is ‘Where talent meets opportunity with excellence and purpose.’ That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Motherhood, Joy, and Growth
These days, Chin balances her artistry with motherhood, a journey she describes as both humbling and transformative.
“It’s one of the hardest, most terrifying, most wonderful things I’ve ever done,” she said. “My joy comes from very simple things now — even growing two tomatoes makes me happy.”
When asked if she’s happy, Chin smiled.
“Happiness is a choice. Some days are hard, but I try to see things to be grateful for. That’s where joy lives.”
Cultural Roots and Reinvention
Of mixed Chinese and Jamaican heritage, Chin proudly embraces the diverse cultural lineage that has shaped Jamaican music history — from Byron Lee to Miss Pat Chin of VP Records.
“I see myself as Jamaican first,” she said. “My grandmother was first-generation Chinese, but we lost touch with that side after she was disowned for marrying my grandfather. Still, I acknowledge those before us who paved the way — musically, artistically, and in business.”
The Future: Building a Legacy Beyond the Stage
While fans eagerly await her musical return, Chin’s focus is squarely on Voice Box Performing Arts and the Tessanne Chin Foundation, where she envisions a world-class performing arts facility in Jamaica.
“My dreams are huge,” she declared. “I’m not saying I won’t record again — but right now, my heart is here, building something lasting.”
That dream takes the stage later this year: Voice Box Performing Arts’ Christmas Show happens December 6 & 7, 2025, at the Ronnie Williams Center, featuring Tessanne Chin, Kim Chin, and special guest Wayne Marshall.
