The Reigning Queen of Dancehall Soul
How Fame Has Helped Elevate
Her Music To Its Own Art Form

Ask any male reggae enthusiast who Cherine Anderson is and you’d get a fleeting smile of appreciative recognition.
The stunning singer, songwriter and actress who made her onscreen debut in the hugely successful film “Dancehall Queen,” is a familiar face in the industry. With a starring role opposite Idris Elba and musical credits in the romantic flick “One Love,” she has quickly become one of the industries most sought after artists of her generation.
Currently on a U.S. tour opening for musician John Mayer with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Anderson speaks softly, with thoughtful pauses. There is an arresting honesty to her voice. She doesn’t give interviews often and is a very private person, I am told, and as a result, she comes across as genuinely engaged in our conversation.
“I grew up in the church and was pretty much protected from the craziness of the streets.”
A petite performer who stands at just 5′ 3″, Anderson grew up in East Kingston, Jamaica. An active member of her church choir, she received professional training in music, dance and theatre when she joined one of the Caribbean’s most successful performing companies, the Ashe Professional Arts ensemble, at age 12.
“I‘ve always enjoyed the arts and grew up in church. We were very active in the choir and at school, I danced, did drama and was pretty much an all-rounder,” she says.
Through the performing arts company, Anderson got the opportunity to audition at  age 13 for “Dancehall Queen,” a modern day Cinderella story of a poor Kingston street vendor who discovers the diverse world of dancehall music.
“They told them they were auditioning for this film and I thought it was another Jamaica play which would go straight to VHS. I went and auditioned and had a call back. What I was told by the producers and writers is that they auditioned about a hundred girls,” she says. “Doing it was fun for I was young and wide eyed and I was like a sponge absorbing everything. I had never done a film before, even though I have experienced being on set dancing and singing I hadn’t done anything onscreen,” Anderson continues.
With the success of “Dancehall Queen,” several movie opportunities came flooding in, offers she turned down to focus on her education.
“I made a decision that I wanted to get a college degree and I think that held a lot of things back in terms of pursuing the arts. I really wanted to get my degree so I was not focusing on anything music or film,” says Anderson who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Music and a minor in Japanese Language and Literature.
“It’s hard trying to shoot a film and complete a degree, so it was more choosing to complete school to then focus on the music and I did that,” she continues.
In 2003, the movie “One Love” a forbidden love story between a reggae musician of Rastafarian faith and a lead singer of a Christian church choir gave Anderson the opportunity to combine her favorite genres – movies and music.
“I wanted to do a project where I was getting to do both and “One Love” was interesting because of the marriage between the music and acting. It helped me to launch the musical side of my career so it was a no brainer because I had the opportunity to write the score for that film.”
Earning an MTV2/Urbanworld Film Festival Best Actress Award for her role as Serena, it catapulted the savvy and smart performer further into the limelight with the opportunity to appear alongside some of the world’s biggest artists.
With musical influences which range from Lauryn Hill, Jimi Hendrix to U2, her formal introduction as a singer/songwriter came in the form of “Good Love.”  A soul filled lover’s rock track produced by the legendary Sly & Robbie, it peaked at #2 on the South Florida reggae charts and also appeared on their Grammy nominated album “Anniversary.” The follow up “Coming Over Tonight,” a duet with Chuck Fenda gave Anderson her first #1 song and video and since then, the official reigning queen of dancehall, who pens all of her own material – a self coined musical genre called dancehall soul has been in high demand.
“For me, the brand of music I make which I call dancehall soul is pretty eclectic, as I am pulling from all the genres that I have been moved by which is soul music, R&B, jazz and rock. The only way to let people understand what it is you are doing is to take your music out there and if you are playing to five, ten, twenty and thirty, that is what you do. With the help of my management team Zlink Entertainment, we have been blessed in the sense that I have not only toured with reggae greats like Sly & Robbie, but I have had the opportunity of being on the road with Michael Franti and opening for bands like Counting Crows and now John Mayer,” says Anderson.
“With art I just want to be free and I like writing stuff that people can relate to.”
In 2009, drawing inspiration from her experiences and everyday occurrences, Anderson released a nine song EP entitled “The Introduction-dubstyle.” With a unique brand of deeply personal songwriting which is impeccably crafted and delivered, it gave Anderson’s fans access to some of her released singles such as “Talk If Yuh Talking” and the uplifting anthem “Shine On Jamaica,” and earned her a 2009 Vocalist of the Year EME Award.
“I like writing stuff that I think people can relate to.” Songs like “Shine” which I directed the video for is dealing with the political state and it’s talking about growing up in a country like Jamaica. I am aware of gang warfare and people dying and friends having babies before they are out high school.  Some of the songs that I write are about my own experiences. Some are of things I have observed.  The song “Talk If Yuh Talking” which did really well came after talking to friend of mine who was going through a divorce. “The inspiration comes from anywhere, but it’s always something people can relate to,” claims Anderson.
An electrifying young performer endowed with a richly soulful voice and striking beauty in a male dominated industry, Anderson refuses to play on her looks.
“I am such a tomboy. I have never played on pretty because there are always prettier. I have always been respected so much for my brain and talent and what I have to say and have never had to rely on looks.”
Level headed and immensely humble, despite her fame and popularity, Anderson is well aware of the subtleties and nuances of fame and it’s something she takes in stride.
“I have always been pretty level headed and it’s cool to have people respect you for your talent and that is part of the plus side. The flip side is to be asked questions about your personal life because it’s something I never talk about. [Being famous] You loose your privacy and people feel that they are entitled to know everything about you but it comes with the game. If that is the only thing that is bad about having a career where everyone knows you then it’s wonderful,” she continues.
Anderson has been featured on the official remixes for Madonna, Britney Spears and Sir Paul McCartney and has also collaborated with Wyclef Jean.
“I have known Clef since I was a kid,” cites Anderson who performed with Wyclef to over 7,000 fans in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.  “He’s like a big brother and I first worked with him when I was in the 10th grade.”
Anderson is working on her debut album, which is scheduled for release this year.
“We are working between Los Angeles and Jamaica on this project which will be released later this year,” she says. “It will be dancehall soul, so expect the unexpected. It is eclectic and it’s going to mix all those sounds I have been talking about – the dancehall, R&B, soul, reggae and rock. Especially now I have been on tour with John Mayer and the Counting Crows, the guitar has become my new best friend,” she shares.
Currently in the middle of a 3 month arena tour opening for Mayer, Anderson will be performing with Michael Franti and Spearhead at the Staple Center on March 25th, and it’s a concert she promises will be a spectacular show.
“We are going to take the temperature up to the next level. Expect to have a wonderful time. Don’t come out in any high heels because you won’t be able to dance,” she adds.
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