Hitting the big time - Sophia Squire looks for breakout year

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Reggae/dancehall music has never been short of journeymen. These artistes may not have many hit songs but they keep plugging away, confident the big time is just around the corner.

Singer Sophia Squire, who marks her 20th year in the music business this year, fits that bill. The soft-spoken Spanish Town native is promoting her latest single, Nature's Calling, an original number produced by Marcus Fire.

Though she has covered a lot of ground in the studio and onstage, Squire has yet to hit the mark in a big way. She admits that can be frustrating.

"Sometimes I feel like giving up on the music business, but it's not about lack of airplay or not getting enough shows," she said.

"To depend on the music 100 per cent is not easy."

Biggest success

Squire's biggest success to date has been Ra-ta-ta-tat which was produced by roots-reggae legend Max Romeo for his Charmers label. She said that song got favourable response in Europe where Romeo has had a following since the 1970s when he struck pay-dirt with classics like War Inna Babylon and One Step Forward.

Her stint with Romeo came 15 years after she made her recording debut with Spanish Town producer Kenneth Rose's Miami Vice label, doing cover songs by soul singers like Deborah Cox.

Squire stayed in Spanish Town for her next recording gig, which was with Phillip 'Bully' Williams, keyboardist for the Riddim Kings Band. Among the songs she did for Williams was a cover of Ken Boothe's rock steady hit Puppet On a String.

Some of her greatest exposure came behind lovers rock superstar Gregory

Isaacs, with whom she toured the Caribbean as a backup singer.

"That was great, touring with an icon like Gregory. You learn something new just about every day," she said.

Nature's Calling is one of several songs Squire has recently recorded.

Another song, Love Like Rain, was done for producer Don Corleone and is scheduled for release soon.

Squire is optimistic about her career fortunes this year. She hopes to celebrate her 20th year as a singer with another milestone.

"What I'm looking for is more promotion for the singles, and somewhere down the line I can get out my first album," she said.