Sophia Brown says 'Catch Me If You Can'

Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

Sophia Brown ended 2010 riding a wave of positive results following years of hard work and an unwavering commitment to success. This year, Brown's career seems to steadily be picking up steam. She doesn't intend on slowing down.

"I am now ready to drop Catch Me If You Can, the title track from my upcoming album," Brown revealed. "I am looking forward to this album as I am getting ready to do a few things differently because this is where I am musically."

She hints that the album could have a neo-soul feel to it.

The singer has also just completed work on the single She On Fire for Def Jam Records. The song features Gutto and Waton the Great and is due out soon.

"I heard the final master mix and I am loving it," says Brown, who says the song should be out "any day now".

The song represents part of the relationship she has with Def Jam, as she has also signed a two-year deal with the label's Global Attack project under which artistes' songs are distributed and promoted all over the planet.

"They found me and wanted to work with me, so I am very grateful," she says.

"They have three of my songs - Gimme That Good Love, Weak To You and A Female Thing (the last two from her last album Spotlight)."

Encouraging feedback

The feedback so far, she says, has been very encouraging. "My name is known internationally, so I feel blessed that so many people know my name and want to work with me," Brown says.

Last year, shortly after returning from the United States, where she shot videos for her songs Catch Me If You Can and Let It Be Me, Brown performed a solid set at Sting and has been working constantly since that time.

She has been logging a lot of studio time, working with several producers on a number of tracks and she is to start work soon on the tracks for her album due out by May.

She is also booked to perform on May 9 in New York, where she will share a stage with Junior Reid and Omari.

In the meantime, Gimme That Good Love, distributed by Universal Records, continues to do well overseas, even as the video continues to enjoy its fair share of play on local entertainment channels.

Chart topper

Gimme That Good Love peaked at number 19 on the Top Urban Pop and World Break Out Charts.

As that was happening, Let It Be Me also continued to do well overseas, climbing steadily up the reggae charts in New York, Florida and the United Kingdom.

The song was selected as one of the top 100 most popular songs for 2010 in the United States. Another of her hit songs, Lovers Rock, which topped the reggae charts in Canada, as of last week held the number-three spot on the New York Reggae Charts and number-two in South Florida. The songs are also doing well on video charts here at home.

"I really can't complain, chart-wise, locally and internationally," Brown says.

"I am aiming for bigger and better things for 2011 as the world is opening up to me."

She acknowledges that demand for her music is at a peak in Japan, as well as Africa.

"The Japanese market is loving and accepting me and it's really wonderful. I am looking to hit those markets going into later this year," she says, confidence oozing from her voice.

"I am physically and mentally ready to take on the world."