Performing as a support act Empress Akua has opened in the Los Angeles area for a number of Reggae artists including Damian Marley, Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Anthony B, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Ras Michael, Slightly Stoopid, Jimmy Cliff, Pressure & Midnite. As a touring artist she has opened for Kymani Marley, Sister Carol, Mikey Dread, Eek A Mouse, Black Eyed Peas, Outkast, Ben Harper Goodie Mob T.I.& Xibit. As a support vocalist, Empress Akua has toured with many reggae artists including Ini Kamoze, Horace Andy, Anthony B & Pato Banton. As a recording session vocalist, she has contributed to many sessions over the years with artists including Rick James, Majek Fashek, Toni Chin and Fully (original members of Peter Tosh band now called the Fully Fullwood band), Pato Banton, Chuck Foster, El Jai, Eek A Mouse & KRS-One.
Empress Akua recordings include the November, 2019 release “Jah Is Good” on the Issachar Muzik label distributed by Tuff Gong International. Recorded in Jamaica the accompanying video was filmed there as well and premiered on the Reggaeville.com YouTube channel as did videos for the songs “Gwaan (Dutty Babylon)” and “Its Cold Out There”. During the September 2019 recording period in Jamaica, the artist performed live on Jamaica’s #1 morning show: CVM at Sunrise and was featured in the Jamaica Observer newspaper: “Empress Akua Connects With the Roots” Born and raised in south central Los Angeles, Empress Akua traces her roots back to the Aboriginals of New Guinea and the Native American Cherokee Indians. She was introduced to reggae music at an early age writing her first song at age eight and has not looked back since. Committed to the “meditation of a goddess”, her vision and message remains to uplift Pan African culture in the diaspora and encourage positive thought and actions as well as exhibiting compassion for the well-being of the less fortunate.
Her powerful, soul-stirring voice and performance style have drawn comparisons to the likes of Lauryn Hill, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt all three of which the artist names as her personal musical influences.
