For reggae artiste Aza Lineage, her recent performance in Maine felt less like a show and more like an experience unfolding in real time.
“Just before I went on stage, there were nerves and excitement”, she said. “I had never been to Maine before, and I knew it wasn’t necessarily a reggae crowd, but I stayed present and focused on connecting through the music”.
She described the energy as different but deeply rewarding. “It wasn’t immediate or loud, but as we went on, they warmed up and became very receptive”.
Instead of her usual delivery, Aza leaned into a more intentional approach, guiding the audience through each song and treating the set like a shared conversation.
“You start seeing it in their faces, the nodding, the smiles. Then you hear the reactions between songs. That’s when I knew they were with me”.
A highlight of the night was “Chikiwawawoi”, which turned into a full crowd moment as attendees began singing along. She also created a unique bridge with a performance of “Fever” by Peggy Lee over a Jamaican rhythm.
“It was cold, very different from home”, she added. “But once my mind was clear, everything flowed”.
By the end of the performance, what started as a reserved audience had fully opened up.
“I felt like I was representing something bigger than myself”, Aza said. “It reminded me that music has no boundaries”. (VP RECORDS)
