5 Questions With Alaine
Published:Friday | January 3, 2025 | 12:08 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Singer Alaine Laughton, known simply as Alaine, has been a constant in the music industry since moving back to Jamaica from the United States in 2004. One year later came her breakthrough hit, No Ordinary Love, a song that remains a big hit with fans when performed live at the many events Alaine is booked for.A quick scroll through her bio shows that Alaine has credits as an actress, having appeared alongside Whoopi Goldberg in movie Clara’s Heart (1988), and she also worked in investment banking at JP Morgan Chase. Her ever-expanding catalogue includes songs such as Deeper, Dreaming of You, Sacrifice, Rise in Love, Born to Win, Bye Bye Bye, and You Are Me. Sacrifice, her début album, was released in early 2008. In 2009, Luv A Dub was released in Japan, and in 2015, the album Ten of Hearts was released.
Alaine has collaborated with internationally acclaimed reggae artistes including Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, and Shaggy,,just to name a few. Her writing and co-writing credits include Gimmie Likkle One Drop and Getty Getty No Wantee with Tarrus Riley and the hit song Tight Skirt for Samantha J and Automatic for Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths. In 2018, Alaine was baptised by gospel artiste Ryan Mark of Pure In Heart Ministries International in Kingston. To ring in the New Year, 5 Questions With ... had a sit-down with Alaine.
1. You rang in the New Year at the UDC Fireworks Festival on the Kingston Waterfront. What was it like for you?
I had a good time … it was fun. It was my second time performing there ... I first did the show some 10 years ago ... and thank God I am still here. I love performing in Jamaica. A lot of people kinda ‘fraid of it. Not me. Me love my Jamaican people.
2.You got baptised a couple years ago. Are you still walking that path?
Oh definitely. God has been a presence in my life and continues to walk with me, so I am grateful. Whatever it is that we face in life it is important for us to declare and to walk with a consciousness of knowing that the power that is above everything is for you and it is well.
3. How long have you been in the business?
It’s more than 20 years of work [that] I have put in, and God has been with me every step of the way. So I give thanks. I am all about celebrating the goodness of God in every experience. At the New Year’s Eve concert we spoke about waving our troubles away, waving away the crosses, and waiting and expecting the blessings to pile up. So I am always going to be that voice saying, ‘Wait … God’s love … receive’.
4. What is your New Year’s resolution?
I resolve to be open and learn more every day and share what I learn. The reason why I know anything that I know is because somebody told me. So I want to be that person to other people. If I can be a light, I will shine.
5. Is there any new music on the horizon?
Yes, yes, yes! I’m working on my album now, but I don’t know exactly when it will be released as yet. I have so many songs, and I’m working on more, so hopefully, by the middle of 2025. But before that I’m coming with singles and music videos. A new single is coming out this month titled Psalm 23, talking about the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want ... Jah never fail I yet and will never fail. That is the energy that I am stepping into 2025 with. Of course, love songs will always be a part of my life.
BRAWTA:
What’s up with your alter ego?
(Laughs) Hilda the Vibes Builder! We will definitely be bringing her back, and we are just going to have a lot of fun with being joyful and creative. We are also revamping the YouTube channel because Mummy loves it and people love Mummy.