Jah'Mila

Jhamiela Smith Dunn is a Jamaican-born Canadian reggae musician, better known by her stage name, Jah'Mila.

Jah'Mila
Birth nameJhamiela Smith
Also known asJhamiela Smith Dunn
BornKingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Websitewww.jahmilamusic.com

Career

Jah'Mila has been singing professionally since she was 17 years old. She performed background vocals for the band Dub Kartel[1] and sang harmonies for The Wailers, Black Uhuru, Cherine Anderson, and The Congos. She made her solo debut in 2016 with the song, "Reggae Got Soul."[2] Jah'Mila performed at the 2019 Halifax Urban Folk Festival.[3] In 2020, she released her song, "Chant Their Names", which critiqued police brutality.[4][5] In 2022, Jah'Mila performed a tribute to Nina Simone with Symphony Nova Scotia.[6] Jah'Mila was described by The Coast as "arguably the biggest name in Halifax reggae."[5]

In 2022, Jah'Mila released her debut LP, Roots Girl.[7] Her father, guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, played on the album,[2] which was recorded in Jamaica.[8] The Coast named Roots Girl one of their top ten albums of 2022.[9]

In February 2023, she performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa as part of a series of performances tracing the history of reggae.[10] She performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in April 2023.[11]

Personal life

Jhamiela Smith was born in Kingston, Jamaica.[1] Her father is guitarist, Earl "Chinna" Smith. After visiting her mother in Halifax, Nova Scotia over a decade, she relocated there.[12] While in Halifax, she met her partner, musician Adrian Dunn.[1]

Discography
  • Roots Girl (2022)

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2023 East Coast Music Awards Global Music Recording of the Year Roots Girl Won [13]
African Canadian Artist of the Year n/a Nominated

References
  1. Briggins, Jonathan (2019-07-29). "Halifax, meet Jah'Mila". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  2. Campbell, Howard (2023-02-21). "Jah'Mila shows reggae's roots". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  3. Mullin, Morgan (2021-02-24). "Follow along as Halifax's reggae-roots royalty Jah'Mila takes over The Coast's Instagram". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  4. Bobkin, Matt (2020-06-11). "Halifax Reggae Artist Jah'Mila Asks Listeners to "Chant Their Names" in Powerful New Video". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  5. Martin, Alec (2020-06-18). "Jah'Mila releases reggae rallying call to end police brutality". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  6. "Celebrated N.S. reggae performer to pay tribute to High Priestess of Soul". CBC. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  7. Gordon, Holly (2022-11-09). "Jah'Mila's achingly personal track, and 5 more songs you need to hear this week". CBC. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  8. Mullin, Morgan (2022-12-01). "Jah'Mila moved from Jamaica to Halifax to make the perfect reggae album". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  9. Mullin, Morgan (2022-12-23). "The best albums of 2022: Jah'Mila's Roots Girl". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  10. "Halifax musician celebrates reggae roots at National Arts Centre". CBC. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  11. Richard, Timothy (2023-03-31). "Jah'Mila brings the vibes to the TSO". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  12. "Reggae Royalty Jah'Mila delivers uplifting appeal to Rise". CBC News. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  13. Slingerland, Calum (2023-05-08). "Here's the Full List of 2023 East Coast Music Awards Winners". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
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