7 months ago
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In the early 2000s, only a handful of entertainers could confidently say they had the music industry wrapped around their fingers. And, standing above them all with mic in hand and a soulful tune on her lips was Alaine Laughton.
Alaine first rose to notoriety in her early years through a number of onscreen opportunities including local TV shows and commercials. Her first ‘big break’ came at the age of nine, when she was cast alongside legendary actress Whoopi Goldberg in the movie, Clara’s Heart.
Her talent and ambitions, however, didn’t stop there.
Armed with an honours degree in management and psychology, Alaine fearlessly ventured into the world of finance at the offices of JPMorgan in New York – all while pursuing her musical dreams.
The songbird then went on to lend her mesmerising vocals to American rapper Cam’Ron, but eventually followed her heart back to Jamaica, where she would collaborate with reggae legends like Shaggy, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, and Beres Hammond.
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Alaine eventually rose to dominance on the local entertainment scene with a slew of hit-songs under her belt like Sacrifice, No Ordinary Love and Deeper – all of which had Jamaicans a yaad an’ abroad singing word for word. Over a decade later, and she continues to bless the audiences around the world with her talent in new and unique ways.
Most notably, on Sunday, April 28, the singer will be performing at R Hotel’s, District 5 restaurant in Kingston as part of the ‘Smirnoff Serenades’ acoustic performances. Smirnoff Serenades is a monthly event through which artistes have an opportunity to interact with their fans via an hour-long intimate acoustic presentation of the artiste’s catalogue of hits, and Alaine promises her session will be one for the books.
Five Questions With caught up with the songbird as she prepares for the weekend festivities.
1. Within the local music scene, you’re known for having some of the most beautifully written love songs. Were they all inspired by your own love life?
You know, sometimes it was just cause my belly was full of some really nice food? I remember like Sacrifice was written after some really good steam fish and bammy! But outside of those times, my real-life experiences do inspire my music. And I give thanks for those moments of love that have inspired songs like No Ordinary Love and continue to inspire me even now … But big up the steam fish too!
2. What is your favourite song from your catalogue and why?
Oh wow, that’s hard! For many different reasons, I have different favourite songs … If we’re talking love songs … oh my gosh that is impossible … But it would have to be between Rising Love and No Ordinary Love. But overall though, my favourite song I have ever created is You Are Me, which was in response to the Tivoli Incursion. And, if you remember, the whole country was shut down and we were so afraid and in the midst of that, I remember seeing people on social media saying that ‘bad things can happen to people [from] places like those’. And I remember being so upset that anyone would have that ability to judge someone based on where they were born. I was like, ‘how dare you have this superiority because of where you were born?’ And I remember I ran to my piano and You Are Me just poured out of my soul and I felt it was something special because that message will always be relevant. We have to love each other like how we love ourselves.
3. You are quickly approaching the 6-year mark of your baptism. How has that journey been?
It has been beautiful, wonderful, lovely. I love God, and will always love God. I am always in a place of gratitude for my journey and for the amazing blessings I continue to receive.
4. Have you had any difficulty balancing your faith and the type of music you have written?
Not at all! And I will continue to express myself as someone who deeply loves and also recognises [that] there are other aspects of life that I sing and write about. In my shows now, and when I tour, I sing all the songs that I used to sing and it’s because I have always felt comfortable with the content I’ve put out.
5. What can fans expect from your performance at District 5 on Sunday?
We’re gonna have the best time. It is going to be a very intimate, musical, fun, energetic and love-filled vibe. Every time I am to sing for people I get so excited because it’s like sharing a gift. And so I really want to thank Smirnoff and R Hotel for the opportunity to really delve into that. The performance is going to be like a conversation with every single person who will be there on Sunday and I look forward to seeing you all!
English (US) ·