Lady Saw goes new direction with My Way

Marion "Lady Saw" Hall, one of the leading women in the Jamaican music scene, is set to release a new album next month. The "Queen of Dancehall," as she is often called, has been in the industry for over 15 years, most of which she spent working with the label VP Records. Her new album My Way, the first under her new label Divas Records, which she created after leaving VP in 2007, reflects a new spirit and a new chapter for Lady Saw.

The record, which features collaborations with rapper Eve, and numerous dancehall big names like Ding Dong and Tony Kelly, is a diverse collection of songs that will appeal to hardcore reggae fans as well as dance and hip hop lovers. My Way shows a softer side to Lady Saw, who is known for her often explicit, sexually-charged lyrics. On Thursday, Lady Saw took some time to talk to The Ticker about the new album and her career.

What was the reason for your switch from VP Records?

I signed with VP for a three-album deal, and I actually ended up spending 14 or 15 years with them, when I should've spent three. But we had a good relationship. I love Chris, he was like a father and a friend. So it was cool. But the business side, I won't get into (laughs). Anyway, some years ago, I asked for my walking papers — that's what I call them. There were albums that I wasn't aware of that were popping up and they were putting out. And I wasn't getting any money for those. And when I was on tour I was thinking about some ideas of what I would want to call my album, and I came up with Divas Records. And so, I'm doing my own thing now. I wanted to just move forward and never look back on the negativity. I'll still do partnerships with them, but I want to do stuff with the artists I want, and choose who I like.

So this is your own label?

Yes, Divas Records is my label. I had another label called Alls Records that I did with VP, but yeah, for now, I'm just doing things how I want it, and sign whoever I want.

Is that why you named the album My Way?

When I left VP, I left with Walk Out [her last album with VP]. And I said what am I going to do with now. I'm doing it my way. And I went to Tony Kelly and I told him I wanted him to do this thing called My Way.

You know, it's about my sexuality. And how to change things up so the man doesn't get bored, you know like doing it on the highway, everywhere. (Laughs) I'm crazy!

You're known for very "raw," often explicit lyrics. What made you include songs like "My Way?"

I've grown. I have a lot of teenage fans. I did a performance at the Jazz and Blues Festival and I did a completely different set than I usually do and everyone was talking about. Even today this man from London called and told me that he's really loves what I did. But yeah, I have teenage fans and people who want something calmer. So I was thinking maybe I should clean it up a bit. But my hardcore fans are like "You getting soft" and they're asking where the crazy stuff is. I left a little bit in there but not that much. On stage, I'll be raunchy if I have to, but not on the album, not this one.

You did collaboration with Eve on My Way. Are you trying to break into the hip-hop scene?

Yes, I am! I'm definitely trying to break in. I love hip-hop music. It's funny because I grew up listening to dancehall and reggae music, but I love to party in a hip-hop club. I live and I breathe reggae, but I love hip-hop and R&B too. I find myself doing a lot of it. In "My Love" (sings "My love is crazy, my love is sick") I do some poetry in it. If I do it on stage, I'll do it like an American should be doing it. Using the f-word, cursing, going crazy. On the album, I couldn't do all that, because I want it to get airplay, but when I'm performing, I'm going to really do it like I wanted to do it. This one was actually produced by my son. He's my son and my nephew. I adopted him when he was a baby. And now he's building beats. But yeah, I wanna break over in everything. I have a new track, a house beat that never got to go on the album because I finished it late. It's called More Liquor, you know like, drinking, partying all day, even for the whole week. It's something that Gaga would sound good on.

You've been in the business for a long time. I remember songs like "Sycamore Tree" and "Put Me On Your Big Ninja Bike" from my childhood. Why do you think you still connect to fans that are college-aged?

The reason is I'm multitalented. I can write for any situation, a relationship, a girl who has been raped. I can do anything because I've been through all that. I could write about hardship and I could write about love. Because I've loved a few good men and I've loved a few bad ones. For instance when my mom passed away, I wrote a song about it and I performed it in Europe. And people were crying with me. One girl told me it really touched her because she had her mom and her dad pass away. I also wrote a song about infertility. Because I've had a few miscarriages and I was being talked about constantly in Jamaica because I couldn't have a child. And when I had my third miscarriage, I sang the song "No Less Than A Woman" in Europe, and people were touched by it. I was in first class and this man felt the urge to come up to me and tell me about how and his wife were struggling to have a child. So, I'm good all around. I could do something that has a young woman dropping it like it's hot, popping, going crazy in the club. And I could also do something like "Silly Dreams" and "Secret" and women my age will love it too.

How have you seen dancehall change since you started until now?

I think dancehall... This is what I don't like about it now. They are using a lot of computers to make people sound really good. But when they're on stage, that's not what you get. With Lady Saw, you don't have all of that. They don't have to use any computer to make my voice sound like a chipmunk or whatever. What you hear in the studio, you're going to hear on stage. I hate when producers use the computers to make the voice sound different, and then when the artist gets on stage, they don't sound good.