By Mark Titus—

Upcoming reggae artist Shuga says she is pleased with her debut performance on International Night I at ReggaeSumfest music festival, which was held at Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay, last week.

“It all started with a dream. I started with a dream and tonight I performed on the Reggae Sumfest stage for the very first time,” Shuga, a native of Montego Bay, told Western Focus. “It was a really good experience and I appreciate the response that I got from the audience, but I am very grateful, believe me the hard work has paid off.”

Born Mitzie Campbell, the singer and deejay graduated from the little girl singing on the church’s children’s choir to win the 2009 Digicel Rising Stars as Brown Sugar.

Shuga as Brown Sugar

Fast forward to 2014, a new image, a name change – from Brown Sugar to Shuga, and equipped with a strong voice and a sultry, sexy persona, she is now looking to take her career a step further.

honed her skills

Prior to her Rising Star triumph, Shuga honed her skills on the Montego Bay music scene, doing several gigs at several locations on the Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue), after graduating from the Herbert Morrison Technical High School.

With several overseas bookings already confirmed for Europe, New Jersey and New York, Shuga believes these experiences will be useful for her continuous development. She is currently riding high on the New York Foundation Radio Network and the South Florida Reggae Charts with “Ride Pon Di Riddim.”

“The males continue to dominate in the industry, but we are determined to hold our own in providing quality music that will be on the lips of our fans for years to come,” she said.

“If I continue on the same track, the sky is the limit for me … I’m just gonna continue to work hard,” she added.