Rosie Awori – Local Journalism Initiative – Montreal Community Contact.
When Jamaican reggae star Turbulence met Montreal-based Soca and reggae artist Alicia Anderson, better known as Miss Diva, he saw something worth investing in.
It wasn’t simply her voice or her enthusiasm for music. It was her potential, and the possibility of helping her become an artist capable of reaching audiences well beyond Montreal.
That chance meeting has since grown into a musical partnership, producing the single Ready for Love and bringing the veteran reggae singer into the development of Anderson’s third EP.
Turbulence returned to Montreal in September to support Miss Diva and perform at a Sept. 19 event, but the visit also offered an opportunity to reflect on their collaboration, his decades in music and what he hopes to accomplish next.
For an artist whose music has travelled from Jamaica to Africa and North America, helping develop another Caribbean voice is a natural extension of his career.
The two first met at a show, where Miss Diva approached him and they exchanged contact information. They stayed in touch, eventually discussing a possible collaboration.
When she sent him Ready for Love, Turbulence liked what he heard.
“I was blown away by the song,” he recalled to the CONTACT.
The collaboration opened the door to a larger working relationship. Ms. Diva wanted to introduce a stronger Jamaican influence into her music, and Turbulence believed he could help her achieve it.
“She has a lot of potential, and her voice is good,” he said. “I think she can deliver even better.”
Now working with her on the forthcoming EP, Turbulence has taken on a role that goes beyond recording alongside her. He is helping shape the music, refine her performances and challenge her to explore different sounds.
But working with Turbulence comes with expectations. His willingness to work with emerging artists comes from a career that has taken his music across continents. Known for songs such as Real Warrior, Cloud Nine and Ganja Head, the Jamaican singer has built a following that extends far beyond the traditional reggae market.
His music has found particularly enthusiastic audiences in Africa, including Kenya, where reggae has long been an important part of the country’s popular music culture.
In the studio, he is not particularly interested in telling an artist what they want to hear. If a vocal take isn’t strong enough, he will ask for another. And another, if necessary.
He acknowledged that his approach can sometimes frustrate Miss Diva, particularly when he insists that she return to a recording she believes is already complete. Still, he maintains that the demands come from a desire to see her succeed. He credits his own musical upbringing, including the guidance of established producers and performers, with teaching him the importance of discipline and honest criticism.
Those lessons stayed with him as his career developed, and he now sees an opportunity to pass them on.
“What I want for myself, I want for others,” he said.
It is a standard he continues to apply to his own recordings.
His ambition is to help her become a more versatile artist, one who can move comfortably between soca, reggae, dancehall and other musical styles without losing her identity.
He is particularly excited about a dance-oriented track they have been developing, which he believes will introduce listeners to a different side of Miss Diva.
The collaboration is also giving Anderson access to the experience of an artist who understands both the creative and commercial demands of the industry.
For a Montreal performer working to establish herself in the wider Caribbean music market, that relationship could prove valuable. She said she was preparing new soca music for the 2027 Carnival season while working to complete the EP with Turbulence. Her ambitions extend beyond any one genre.
While soca remains an important part of her artistic identity, her work with Turbulence is allowing her to explore the Jamaican reggae and dancehall traditions more deeply.
The partnership is also a reminder of the connections that exist between Montreal’s Caribbean music community and the wider international industry. For Anderson, having an established Jamaican performer invest time in her development offers both creative guidance and an opportunity to reach listeners who may not yet know her music.
And Turbulence appears equally invested in what comes next. He is not simply lending his name to a recording. He wants to help develop an artist whose work can stand on its own.
Outside the studio, Anderson is also expanding her entrepreneurial interests through Cloud Diva, her lipstick line, with a fall collection in development.
Even as he helps guide Anderson’s career, Turbulence has no intention of slowing down his own. He spoke about new singles, collaborations, and work through his Black Carpet Consciousness project, as well as his involvement in artist development and production.
Among the music he discussed was Twin Flames, a collaboration he said had been attracting considerable attention. He enjoys developing ideas, telling stories and finding different ways to communicate with audiences. At the time of the interview, he was preparing for additional performances in Canada and had plans for appearances in Asia later in the year.
And although his September visit to Montreal was brief, it allowed him to experience more of the city than he usually does. Friends took him shopping and sightseeing, including a visit to Mount Royal. On previous trips, he said, his time had largely been spent travelling between the airport, hotel and performance venue.
He hopes to return to Montreal, where he believes audiences appreciate the combination of energy and message that he brings to the stage.
“When you come to a Turbulence show, it’s just mad fun and mad education and mad entertainment and mad vibe,” he said.
For now, one of his most important connections to the city is the artist whose music brought him back.
With Ready for Love already establishing their musical chemistry and another project in development, Turbulence and Miss Diva are looking to build on a partnership that began with a simple conversation at a show.
For Anderson, it is an opportunity to grow under the guidance of an artist whose music has reached audiences around the world.
For Turbulence, it is a chance to share the lessons of a long career and help another artist find her place in the industry.
And for Montreal’s Caribbean music community, it is another example of local talent building connections that reach well beyond the city.
