Crimson Heart Replica - 'I'm not your typical Jamaican artiste'

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

She is not easily placed in one or another genre of music. But Katherine Williams continues to put her heart into her work.

Crimson Heart Replica (CHR) is the name Williams, a 25-year-old singer, songwriter and guitarist, goes by.

CHR has done well on the underground live music scene for years.

"I've been writing and performing since I was little but professionally since I was around 19, 20. I call my music alternative lover's rock like Sade but with more edge to it," said CHR.

The artiste's appearance is testimony to her unique style, as it represents, in no uncertain terms, hard-core alternative rock exemplified by edgy hairstyles and multiple tattoos.

Her music, though, is soft; songs like Getting Ill, Beautiful Mistake, Close and Pins and Needles. Having listened to a number of classic artistes such as Stevie Wonder, Santana, Madonna, Prince, BeeGees, and Earth Wind and Fire growing up, rock was the form that most appealed to the singer who cites bands such as Hole, 311, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin as influences.

Her father, Williams said, has been a great influence on her career, having bought her her first guitar. He continues to support her today.

Works with live bands

The singer started out years ago at an open mic at Tony's Bar on Chelsea Avenue in New Kingston and has since performed at RedBones, Weekenz, the Grand Lido, the Talent Farm and Tabacco Road in Florida and, more recently, for Quizz, Italee and Friends at the Village Bar. Williams mostly works on her music with live bands or performs solo with her guitar but has worked with producers such as Vyce City Project and John Stanton.

Being different, while gaining her attention, has also been CHR's greatest challenge.

"I'm not your typical Jamaican artiste. I have been approached by big producers and artistes who say, "Yow, yuh bad, yuh can sing", but then at the end of the day they don't know how to market me, the music, the whole rock thing and tattoos, I don't represent anything truly Jamaican," she said.

Not focusing on the negatives, Williams is simply enjoying being an artiste and performing to crowds of fans and friends. She hopes to one day assist in building the live music scene and especially the alternative scene in Jamaica.

As well as singing her own music, Williams has recently started to promote live music, hosting a number of live events. One of her events is the weekly Friday night series 'Altered Fridays' at the Jonkanoo Lounge at the Hilton Kingston Hotel (now Wyndham) where she said they play "anything alternative".