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JASMINE, JAZZWAD, ESTELLE AND BOUNTY KILLER ON LION’S CORNER. JAMAICA.
So if you recall last week I experienced Caribbean fashion week in Kingston Jamaica and whilst there was fortunate to be able to hang out with my West London girl Estelle. After Estelle performed at day 1 of the fashion event we ended up at local nightclub Fiction where I expected lots of dancehall and soca like I used to enjoy at infamous Kingston nightspot Asylum. But alas Asylum no longer exists and the night at Fiction , whilst extremely fun, played mostly European dance music and which I’d come to JA to escape!
ESTELLE AND SEAN PAUL’S MANAGER AND MAN ABOUT TOWN STEVE WILSON AT FICTION NIGHTCLUB. JAMAICA.
Lovely Steve Wilson (Sean Paul’s manager and loyal friend) looked after us whilst out and about and we all had a great night with me ordering cranberry juice and often finding it spiked with vodka. I felt obliged to down a coffee liquor shot too. It was delicious and luckily afterwards I was still standing!.
PR LADY JESSICA HUIE, JASMINE AND ESTELLE AT FICTION NIGHTCLUB. JA.
The next morning Estelle and I hung out by the pool, took silly paparazzi pics of each other on our opposite facing balconies and had a drink on her hotel suite balcony (of some lovely Ethiopian honey wine which the islands legend-lovely Moira Morgan had brought me the day before). We had a good old chinwag about fashion and music. Stell said she had been to JA twice before and that it was ‘’always a big moment. I’ve never been here and it’s not been amazing. I come to Jamaica to work, play and chill. After all anything else would be a disservice!’’
We laughed at the stereotypes that the world tends to have about Jamaica being about only Bob Marley, reggae and weed. Stell shook her head in disbelief adding ‘’in my experience, it’s a stunning island of stunning people. There’s no trouble, if you don’t start nothing there won’t be nothing. I’ve never experienced the crazy side of the hood out here. There’s no threat’’.
We both agreed that we were very impressed by our 1st Caribbean fashion week with the audience looking ultra slick and so glam it could may well have been a New York fashion week audience! We also noted that the fashion lines from JA could easily make it on an international catwalk but that they needed to brand it better by dressing local acts that were big internationally in designs and with their athletes always being front and center of many sports that there was branding potential here too. With it being Jamaica’s 50-year celebrations all across the world coming up there’s no better time!
Stell wanted to shout out Brit designer Gavin Douglas who had shown his collection the previous night ‘’I did Rip the Runway with him in New York. He makes bodices and structured clothing so well. He also made stuff for my Shine tour. I didn’t originally know he was a Brit. My stylist then-Karen Binns-brought him to my attention’’.
Being all over fashion blogs for her edgy fashionable looks I asked Stell what piece of advice she would give to designers out here trying to break the big market internationally? She stated ‘’Pay attention to what women’s bodies look like in your city. Do stuff that’s gonna make the women of your city look good and then women worldwide see that. For example emphasize the tits and ass and small waists from JA’’.
Stell’s current fashion favourites and trends include peplums which she smiles ‘’gives women waists and beautifully accentuates waists’’. However she thoroughly disapproves of leopard print pants on dudes stating band LMFAO and Lil Wayne as big culprits.
She also pondered and wondered ‘’who dresses Jessie J?. She’s an incredible singer but is she dressing for stage or comfort? She may be comfy but doesn’t often look like it. I think you have to evolve. I’ve had my own mishaps. I’m sure I’ve had stage outfits that have affected my performance. I know now that they should be comfy. Also however an artist evolves the clothes have to be you-be real!’’
ESTELLE AND JASMINE AT THE LEGENDARY MARLEY FAMILY STUDIOS- TUFF GONG!.
We then jumped into the ride to go to the legendary Tuff Gong studios where she was rehearsing and whilst there we reminisced about Estelle’s journey so far and she revealed that her 4th studio album ‘’All of me’’ reached all her expectations and that she has started recording the 5th already. ‘‘The 4th album was to get people to understand who I am but now I have to evolve and do me. My fans have expectations and some still want another 1980 or American boy but now I do what the hell I want to do. That’s why people like me. I do me for me. Not other people. Let me live! LOL’’
Then we hurried ourselves up to get out for our day of adventure as Stell ended on the fact that she wanted to make feature films next. She revealed that she’s been auditioning like crazy. ‘‘The films are always music based. They send me quite meaty stuff in scripts and there have also been a few younger sister roles. So now I have to work on my American accent’’. (She’s been hanging out with film maker Noel Clarke in L.A so who knows what could be on the cards for her next!)
JASMINE, ESTELLE, BOUNTY KILLER, JAZZWAD AND FRIENDS STRIKE A POSE.
After rehearsal we drove up the road to Lion’s Corner where we hung out with superstar Bounty Killer as Estelle’s team shot some footage for one of her forthcoming new videos (no she never stops working!). Whilst chatting with him I heard someone yell ‘’Yo Jasmine!’’ I looked around timidly to spot none other than reggae producer extraordinaire Jazzwad hanging out too. We caught up and he revealed he’s been working on a lot of new music whilst moving from London to Jamaica and we will hear some of his new stuff with Bounty Killer very soon.
PR MAVEN JESSICA HUIE, JASMINE, ESTELLE AND BEENIE MAN ON HELLSHIRE BEACH.JAMAICA.
Straight after that we jumped into the ride to head down to Hellshire Beach where we met up with the don Beenie Man who was shooting a video of his own. The beach vibe was so amazing and like nothing I’ve experienced before.
JASMINE, JESS AND ESTELLE ENJOY FRESHLY FRIED AND SEASONED PARROT FISH AND RED SNAPPER STRAIGHT FROM THE JAMAICAN OCEAN.
The sound systems and DJ’s were jamming in the daylight, fresh fish was frying straight out of the sea, local families were splashing in and out of the water.
JASMINE, ESTELLE AND JESSICA HORSE AROUND ON HELLSHIRE BEACH. JA.
On the adjacent beach there was the biggest, wildest dancehall party kicking off with girls and guys all in their beachwear daggering and wining for all they were worth! We were in heaven!
As we ended the night Estelle popped her arms across my shoulders and smiled ‘’London I love you but I’m having a ball in Jamaica!. The recent gig I played at London’s Jazz Café made me realise I’m not crazy. It restored my faith in myself. Sometimes people say stuff to make you doubt yourself so it was good to see the affirmation at home. New york. L.A. London. Jamaica. I have that same touchstone moment in all these places and I feel lucky to call many home!”
Jasmine's Juice. The news, views and fabulosity from the UK's most connected fly girl. Mover, Shaker, Connector.