JoZee Turns Her Lifelong Love Of Reggae Into Gospel Album

The Italian-American gospel singer is preparing to release her first reggae-gospel project, produced by Jamaican veteran Danny Brownie

JoZee is bringing together her Christian music and longstanding love of Jamaican music with Who God Says I Am, her first reggae-gospel album.

The 15-track project is scheduled for release on October 6, with veteran Jamaican producer Danny Brownie handling production for Main Street Records. The album focuses on faith and purpose while placing JoZee’s gospel music within a reggae framework.

For JoZee, the project represents the continuation of an interest in reggae that began during childhood rather than a recent change in direction.

Growing up in Chicago, she discovered Jamaican music through artists including Third World, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Jacob Miller and Marcia Griffiths. Her listening later expanded to dancehall artists such as Eek-A-Mouse, Barrington Levy, Yellowman, Super Cat and Shabba Ranks.

“I have loved reggae music since I was a little girl,” JoZee said, describing reggae as her favourite genre and recalling that she had long wanted to record it.

Her route into the music industry began well before the new album. JoZee started performing at nine and later studied music at DePaul University before securing a recording deal with Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records. Her musical influences also extended beyond reggae, with her childhood exposure including Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin and Barbra Streisand.

The connection with Brownie eventually provided the opportunity to turn her interest in reggae into a full project.

During a Christmas visit to Jamaica in 2023, JoZee and her husband stayed at Brownie’s home. Brownie invited her into the studio, where an informal session developed into the first recording for what would become the album.

Brownie subsequently helped shape JoZee’s approach to the genre, encouraging her to stay with the melody and ride the rhythms. JoZee described him as an important part of the recording process and praised his approach to vocal production.

The collaboration also builds on JoZee’s previous work in Christian music. She has worked with Jamaican gospel deejay Prodigal Son, including collaborations produced by Brownie, further connecting her gospel work with Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall traditions.

The album’s arrival gives JoZee an opportunity to bring together several strands of her musical background: formal training, gospel, American popular music and the Jamaican sounds she has followed since childhood.

For Brownie, the project represents another production chapter after a career that has included work in Jamaican dancehall before his conversion to Christianity. His role gives the album a direct connection to Jamaica’s recording tradition rather than simply using reggae as a stylistic backdrop.

Who God Says I Am is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.

For JoZee, the album marks the latest stage of a musical relationship with reggae that began decades ago and has now moved from listening to recording.