Kelissa Uncovers ‘The Good Side of Things’ on First Studio Album in Almost a Decade: ‘I Created the Music I Wanted and Needed’
Categoria: Musica
The reggae star makes her long-awaited return.
Por Billboard | 01/07/2026
Nine years after her majestic Spellbound debut album, reggae luminary Kelissa has finally returned with a new soulful, grounded collection of tunes that champion The Good Side of Things . The sister of Grammy winner Keznamdi and partner of Grammy-nominated reggae superstar Chronixx, Kelissa crafted her new record from years of major life changes and music industry evolutions. In a way, she was in an Exile of her own. Related The 10 Best Caribbean Albums of 2025 (Critic’s Picks) Keznamdi Unveils U.S. Dates for Blxxd & Fyah Tour; Teases New Album: ‘We’re Going to Raise the Bar’ Caribbean Up-And-Comer of the Month: Lady Lava Chose Her Career Over Being a Housewife — And Inspired Women Across the Diaspora in the Process “I’ve been working!” she tells Billboard with a laugh. “This process took years. We made a lot more music across different genres, but this combination of songs was what felt most needed right now. And making this music was such a healing process. I really believe in curating a sound for albums; I don’t think it should just be a random collection of songs. Although this [album] has a very diverse sound, we worked very hard to create one sound — and that’s what took all this time.” Dripping with hard-earned faith and optimism, The Good Side of Things blends Kelissa’s roots reggae foundation with her love for world music and signature poetic lyrics. “Cut & Clear” opens the set with an earthy, woodwind-accented instrumental; “Jah Odo (Jah Love)” delivers a rollicking, brass-infused groove; and “Trying,” a notable standout, finds Kelissa reimagining an original song her mother wrote and performed 10 years ago. Deeply entrenched in the music world, Kelissa and her three siblings are the children of Errol “Jakmandora” McDonald and Kerida “Goldilocks” Scott, the leaders of reggae band Chakula. Through blending original compositions with covers of her parents’ own music, Kelissa underscores the continued importance of legacy and lineage in reggae music. The world last heard a project from Kelissa in 2019; she teamed up with Shacia Päyne, daughter of Stephen Marley, for their genre-blurring Anbessa World mixtape. That project arrived just eight months after Kelissa welcomed her first child, a daughter with Chronixx, and she’s spent the following years focusing on family life and meticulously putting together an album that authentically reflects the current state of her heart and psyche. In addition to working on Good Side with Chronixx — who co-produced and co-wrote several songs on the album — assembled his own acclaimed Exile LP, Kelissa also guested on Keznamdi’s Blxxd & Fyah , which won the best reggae album Grammy earlier this year (Feb. 1). Now squarely back in the spotlight, one of contemporary reggae’s most distinctive and ethereal voices is back — and she’s already ruminating on her next album as she looks ahead to returning to touring life. In a candid conversation with Billboa