Roxanne Robinson.
IT has been 22 years since Roxanne Robinson gave her life to the Lord. It has been a journey that she describes as having its highs and lows.
Her most recent album Still Standing, is a testament of her life experiences and how she has been able to overcome some obstacles along the way.
“After all I’ve been through I’m still standing, not in my own strength but because of the love of God, I have no reason to fear. He is in every detail so I will celebrate and proclaim him as Lord over my life,” Robinson told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.
Said Robinson, “I’ve been a born-again Christian for 22 years. The journey has many highs and lows. There were days I questioned God. ‘Why so much pain; is this what it truly means to follow you?’ because life seemed more challenging after I accepted him at the age of 15. I endured deception, rejection, manipulation, sexual and emotional abuse, bullying, and attempted suicide in my teenage years. It is through those encounters God’s strength was made perfect for me. He taught me what it feels [like] to be loved and accepted, seeing myself through his eyes and not man’s. It is his voice that echoed in my kitchen to drop the knife and turn my eyes upon him. Like Mary, I’ve found my identity in Christ. I revere him with every fibre of my being, passionately compelled to tell of his goodness unapologetically.”
Still Standing was released last October and it features 11 tracks. Production was handled by Steve Henry and Jonathan Kerr.
Some of the musicians who worked on the project include Jermaine Stern (organ), Steve Henry (piano), Dwayne Wade (bass), and Jonathan Kerr (drums).
The project Robinson shared took two years to complete. There are collaborations featuring Pastor Richard Brown, Arriel Hall and Michael Manhertz.
Some of the tracks are Awesome God, Great God, My Love, Days of Elijah, Caribbean Medley, Jesus, Release and Release Your Power.
Robinson explained what led her to music.
“I grew up in church so I was always around music, but I wasn’t allowed to sing with the youth group and my sister Sheena until I got baptised. On numerous occasions I was asked to represent my church in and around my community. What resonated is, every time I opened my mouth it shifted the room mightily and the MC would say, ‘Going places, going places.’ But I was ignorant of what she was seeing in me.
“My love for music grew after I migrated to Canada and discovered I was more than just a songbird. God wasted no time propelling me on platforms I could only dream of. I was graced with the opportunity to open a concert in Toronto featuring Pastor Shirley Caesar, who left a profound word with me. She said, ‘Give God everything and honour him.’
“Fast-forward, in 2015 I made it official and released my first EP and was awarded New Artiste of the Year,” Robinson disclosed.
The gospel singer and minister, who is originally from Thomas Road in Ewarton, St Catherine, attended McGrath High.
“My relationship with God is beautiful. He is my father and I’m his daughter. The love of God has rescued and transformed life beyond human comprehension. He’s mended my broken pieces and changed my name for good. In him I live and have my being,” Robinson shared.