BIOGRAPHY
Overview
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Through her label Kalinga Records , Isha Bel has produced and released several projects, these include the latest release Still A Make a Way, Second Nature and the 2020 album Hear Me Now ( One Woman Army ). Isha Bel brings to the ears of listeners higrade vibrations , poignant, unapologetic songs of inspirations and consciousness. Hear Me Now was well received, earning excellent reviews from Jamaica Star , Vision Newspaper in Canada,WorldAReggae and Reggae Reviews and more . Reggae Record Japan’s download store selected it as “Album of the Week”. Zojak placed Hear Me Now on the 2020 Reggae Grammy Consideration List. She was also nominated in Reggae.Fr Intl
Female artists of the year category.
Vocalist,songwriter producer & actress Natalie ‘Isha Bel’ Walsh is reggae music’s journey woman living out her vision to breathe life into the songs that fill her nightly dreams. She is churning out potent songs and cutting roads across continents . The undeniably talented Isha Bel possess a powerful metallic voice, reminiscent of the soulful sounds of the early days of reggae, balanced by the raw gritty energetic delivery of modern urban sounds. She is steadily building afollowing across the world. She is often compared to the members of iconic reggae group,The I Threes ,Phyllis Dillon and Tina Turner.
The consummate creative has found a niche in the roots reggae and digidub scene, sometimes she dabbles in other genres. Isha Bel writes and produces songs for herself and collaborates with artists and groups such as Chaka Demus , OBF Sound? Dubquake Records( fr) who released her latest single Nuh Call the Police on vinyl and digital.She has a growing catalogue with labels such King Jammy’s Sud Sound System ( Italy ) Conscious Sounds(UK) Swiss labels Addis Records and GoldBar Records, Scotch Bonnet Records etc and on her own label Kalinga Records.
Her music is fuelled by her upbringing in the rough and tumble environment of East Kingston, Jamaica. She and her 5 siblings were raised by working class Christian parents Lorna and Donald Walsh.. Her deceased father who was a great singer inspired her immensely. Other influences came from the very active art programme at her church and the potpourri of sounds coming from the community. From her house she could hear the drumming of Mystic Revelation of Ras Tafari, the chants from Miss Birdie Poco Church and Super D sound playing the latest songs. She credits her grandmother Miss Pet and Mr.Fuzzy one of the singers & keyboardist with Mystic Revelation of Rastafari with putting her on her first public stage. To the chagrin of her parents she ventured in the music industry juggling university and a 9-5 job at the local newpaper Jamaica Observer. The music eventually won. Her first professional experience was with former girl group 4th Street Sista. Stints include recurring hotel gigs, performing in Turks and Caicos , Reggae Sumfest , face of Miniginon contraceptive campaign , cameo appearance in One Love movie.When the group broke up, she did short stints as bg vocalist touring with acts Warrior King Iley Dred and LMS . She then went on a lengthy break
Evolution
In 2012 she reentered the industry as Isha Bel Isha Bel is her spiritual evolution. From the day she won Irish & Chin 45 Sound clash competition with the then unreleased track ‘Nuh Call the Police’ she has not stopped. Isha Bel focused greatly on just making songs churning out many releases. Some of the releases include Dub Reggae ft Isha Bel vocal pack released by New York cloud based Samples company Splice.several Vinyl releases, Ancestor Song,.Bless Jah Holy Name, Cost of Living EP with producers in Europe and Africa. Cost of Living ep received regular plays by David Rodigan on BBC 1xtra & Couleur 3 fm in Switzerland. She has collaborations with Chaka Demus such as the recently released Time to have Fun on King Jammy’s Label and Beautiful Place on his 2019 album Success released by Jetstar.
In 2016 OBF Sound released a collab mixtape which features Isha bel and Wild life aka Nazamba. The mixtape lead to her first tour Lightning & Thunder Europe Tour in 2017 where she performed in Switzerland, France Germany and Italy.Isha Bel has graced many more stages which include opening for Chaka Demus & Pliers in 2022 on Reggaeland Festival in Uk , Her most cherished performance is singing her composition Red Black and Green at the Jamaican Govt. Commemoration Ceremony of the Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey at National Heroes Park. Marcus Garvey’s teachings form a huge part of her outlook
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Music is only one part of Isha bel greater vision.She is on a quest to be difference
through her Rescue Youths Ja outreach missions doing homework & back to school assistance in Rockfort. .She is also part of the Theatre for Change Collective created by Masani Productions ( Canada) tackling gender based violence(GBV) and mental illness issues . She played the lead of Sheba in the GBV Radio Drama To Sheba With Love on Bess 100 Fm. Other outreach mission include going into prisons , co-director of Back to Niceness and Back to Fest in Majesty Garden ( Back to) with Creator Family from Guyana The 5 month long programme unearthed talents around the 3 miles area and raised funds for needy students from the communities . Winners of Back to Niceness were taken on month long tour of Guyana. She was awarded certificates of appreciation by Rita Marley Foundation & Roots Foundation for her contribution to their outreach programmes
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Isha Bel is now focused on completing RockFort Heart album the follow up to Hear me Now. Isha Bel promises a deeply personal album which will stretch the gamut of Jamaica's music. Isha Bel states that “Music is my therapist. I am just a vessel for the universe She represents this fully through her rootsy and soulful rubadub style.