Naomi Marcella knew she wanted to sing from the time she was about five years old.
There was no turning back when she got a karaoke machine as a Christmas present at age 12.
The songbird, who is still on top of the world after meeting her dad in Barbados for the first time recently, recalls bringing her aunt to tears after playing a song she had recorded on the same machine.
She later joined a gospel choir and performed with the group for nine years.
“We did a lot of shows in some big venues in Lester, but I’m a very quiet person so I never got any of the lead vocals or anything like that,” Marcella said.
Opting to go the educational route, she pursued a degree in person-centred counselling.
“I wanted to major in music, but it was so hard to make it in the industry . . . . And I promised myself that after I finished my counselling, I would get back into my singing again,” she explained.
She would later make links with manager Pete Christopher; and things have grown from there.
The mother of two said she got more versatile as the years went by.
“I think my voice has grown with age, and I like the fact that I’m not just prone to one genre of music. I like all different kinds of music,” she stated.
Her repertoire is still 100 per cent covers, but she is looking to get some original material out in the future. She is still performing part-time and sings at clubs, weddings, carnivals and other events at various venues in England.
“Music for me is like food to my soul. It’s another way to express myself,” she told the WEEKEND NATION.
Marcella was only in Barbados for nine days, but she was able to perform at the Blue Room, McBrides, Reggae Lounge, Waves Hotel, Ocean 15 and Princess Margaret Secondary School and do a couple of radio interviews during her visit. She said she got “good” responses from the local audiences. (YB)
