Yet another member of the Forrester music clan is stepping up to the stage.
Joneal Mason, niece of musician and producer Philip Forrester, has just released five tracks on YouTube after totally blowing away Philip while rendering a song on behalf of her late brother, Jermaine Forrester, last year.
“Blown away by her vocals as she sang His Eye Is On The Sparrow with such soul and passion, Philip instantly knew that she was a star,” her website’s biography states.
Since then, Philip has done some intense studio work with the bubbly 15-year-old, producing tracks such as One Shot which was penned by Shane Forrester and pop star, Jaicko, and Yes Baby written by another Barbadian international recording artiste Livvi Franc.
It is clear where her influences lie: with the first track Superstar showing shades of Rihanna in attitude and phrasing.
The second track One Shot is edgier, punctuated by male backing vocals; Yes Baby has a lively reggae influence, while the other two numbers, Remember Me and Never Get Enough, are in the mould of slow R&B?and showcase her genuine vocal quality.
Her pop stylings, though typically youthful, boast a range that is likely to improve with regular work on and off stage, especially under the guidance of relatives who have solid experience in the industry.
Joneal, who was born in the United States, grew up in South Jamaica in Queens, New York, amid traditional family units whose roots lay in Guyana and Antigua.
Further Caribbean influence came when Joneal spent a period of her childhood in Barbados.
At age ten, she first hit the stage as a dancer in a group called SS Hip Hop Styles where she enjoyed dancing on television shows, including BET’s 106 & Park’s Wild Out Wednesdays, and and was part of a performance troupe for Beyonce’s 25th birthday celebration.
According to Philip, Joneal’s love for music and writing is expressed in her lyrics as she embraces sounds of pop and R&B with influences such as Rihanna, Keke Palmer, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber and Mary J. Blige.
“When I sing, I sing with emotion and I love making music that makes people happy.
“I write songs that teens can relate to,” she stated on her website.
