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August 29, 2006
SELAH LEADING THE CHARGE OF REGGAE-SOUL
Robert Murphy
YardFlex Writer
P & L Recording artiste Selah has a thing for the number seven. He believes that it plays an important role in his life so much so that he wears a gold chain with a large number seven pendant around his neck at all times
"The number seven has a special significance in my life from birth because my mom and dad had eight children, I am the seventh one, so I always take #7 as a lucky number, it is significant as in the seventh seal, number seven will always be special to me," he said.
Selah is one of the frontrunners of a brand new genre, one which the critics have dubbed reggae-soul, and he has been scorching the nation's airwaves along with other contemporary artistes like Etana with their phenomenal new sound. Selah's most popular single to date is a refreshing gem of a song called 'Think About It' that become an anthem of some local FM radio stations.
"Reggae soul is a new genre that is set to take over the world, it's powerful," Selah told YardFlex.com.
His name breathes spirituality. Selah is a Hebrew word meaning "pause, reflection", within the context of a prayer or psalms, is similar in purpose to amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage. This word occurs seventy-one times in thirty-nine of the Psalms.
Selah takes his chosen role in music very seriously.
"Every artiste should see himself as a messenger, as a servant to speak to the people, to give them advice and positive messages, that's what I try to do, try to be positive, and inform and uplift the yutes," he said.
He began growing his 'covenant' five years in a move to explore the Rastafarian philosophy of living deeper and he has not regretted it.
"I am a rastafarian, it is not a hair doctrine with me, nuh true yu see me pierce two of mi ears, now a modern time blood," he said, laughing.
Born Chevan Gaunlette Clarke on October 5, 1974 at Brunswick Avenue in the old capital of Spanish Town, Selah attended McCauley elementary and primary school and later spent five years at Spanish Town Secondary School (now Spanish Town High School. He migrated to the UK, but failed to break into the mainstream market because of what he says is 'racism'.
But he has put those bad experiences behind him, and under the supervision of his new management team, P & L Records Ltd., Selah is poised for big things in the 2006. The buzz on Selah is growing.
He was one of a few foreign acts who performed at the launch of the MTV Network Channel "Tempo" dubbed Caribbean Rising, which took place at the James Bond beach in Oracabessa, St. Mary Jamaica in October last year. He was also one of the main acts at the recent B-Mobile High School Tour which sought to promote non-violence in schools.
On August 28th, he will be peforming in London at a show dubbed 'Reggae in the Palace' which will be held under the patronage of the Mayor of London. He also has upcoming shows in Germany.
"I am just giving thanks right now to Jah, I like the direction that my career is heading in, and I have lots of music left in me, reggae-soul is going to be the next big thing," he said.
Selah.