DeAnna Wattley, “The Voice of the Virgin Islands” is set to release “Christmas with DeAnna”, a holiday album today Friday December 5, 2014. Photo: Provided

“Christmas with DeAnna” becomes her second holiday album, the first being “Christmas From Our House to Yours” (2003), but this album, she confesses was very special to her. Photo: Provided

The CD features nine tracks which range from ballads to up-tempo songs each rendering a different genre of music ranging from jazz to soca, calypso, reggae, classical and fungi. Photo: Provided

She is called “the Voice of the Virgin Islands” and her newest CD is titled “Christmas with DeAnna,” a holiday album. The album comes as families in the Virgin Islands (VI) are gearing up for a great Christmas celebration. The album marks the first time in 11 years since DeAnna has been in the recording studio. Her last project was released in 2003.

DeAnna who is also the Director of the New Life Baptist Church Senior Choir first sang before an audience when she was five years old at the church which was then named the Road Town Baptist Church.

Her first project, “Now is the Time” was released in 2000 and by 2002 she had caught the attention of the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET and was called to perform there. Her voice became synonymous with the singing of the Territorial Song “Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands” when she became the first to sing the Song at the 2005 State of the Territory Address”.

Her first was “Christmas From Our House to Yours” (2003), but this album, she confesses was very special to her.

She told this news site that the complete list of songs reflects songs that she personally chose for the project. The list of songs chronicles her celebration of the birth of Christ and the tradition and feeling of the season which is especially captured in Track seven, "Temperance Bells".

Other songs include “Carol of the Bells,” “Let Us Adore Him,” “Angels Medley” which includes some of the top worship songs today. Of this track DeAnna says it will be the reason to play the CD all year round. “Tell it on the Mountain,” “What A Wonderful Child,” “Do You See What I See” and “Christmas Medley” complete the album.

Ms Wattley also makes a statement by calling this a CHRISTmas album, placing emphasis on Christ, who she wishes the world to acknowledge as the reason for the season.

“This may be my most personal project to date and it also serves as my reintroduction to recording, something I haven’t done since 2003”, she said. “I’ve lent my voice, bellowing gospel music for years, but Christmas and singing the music that comes with this special season have always been uniquely special for me,” she said in a release.

The holiday album came together in a short period of time; about two months to be exact and was recorded and engineered locally at Homegrown Studios; musical arrangements being handled by Brent Hoyte and mastering by Raul Sprauve. The CD features appearances from the New Life Baptist Church Senior Choir, an assembled choir of local children and Bishop John Ivan Cline who brought the flavour of old Virgin Islands caroling groups with the “Christmas Medley”.

DeAnna also used her project to bring back Threcio Phillips to the drum set. Phillips who has been battling cancer has had to stop drumming weekly as he recovers.

The CD features nine tracks which range from ballads to up-tempo songs each rendering a different genre of music ranging from jazz to soca, calypso, reggae, classical and fungi.

Speaking to her church she confessed that the project was a labour of love for her and reminded her of how much hard work it is to record.

“I was a bit scared but I got used to it and I love the final project”.

Already her CD has garnered the adoration of many. Her church family fell in love the “Angels Medley” when she presented them with the first listening opportunity last week, ahead of release. Both Neil “Mr. Melee” Blyden and Paul “Gadiethz” Peart have showered praise on the project with both playing it excessively on their morning radio shows and stations.

LIME Dj Dre has also joined the chorus of praise saying that “it is a well recorded and well thought out project” and has committed to playing it on his radio show daily during this season. Persons who reserved copies ahead of release have also taken to social media to share pictures of them holding the CD as part of the “D on D5” campaign which means DeAnna’s CD will be released on December 5^th.

The CD will be available for purchase at the Save the Seed Energy Centre, UMI, Infinite Solutions, Accessorize It and on iTunes. CDs will cost $20. DeAnna is available for booking by calling 494-0391.

The project was funded by several local companies and persons which is a testament to the confidence persons have in her spirit, voice, and ability. Village Cay Marina, LIME, Eureka Medical Centre, Rite Way Food Markets, KRS Services, Burke's Garage, Bishop John I. Cline, Yohann Henry, Sheila George and Chauncie Cline all contributed to the album while other support was pulled from Jermaine Baltimore who did the graphic work for the album, Kareem-Nelson Hull who worked on content and promotion, Stephanie Brewley- George who provided backup vocals and her father Bernell Wattley who was her first producer and is still pushing this new project.