Sulltry on mission to soothe souls

When reggae-fusion songstress Sulltry sings, there is an undeniable electricity in the air - a sense that something soulful, powerful, and deeply healing is about to happen. Her velvety voice, wrapped in emotion and truth, has begun to capture the attention of listeners across generations.

After years of detours and rediscovery, the Kingston-born artiste has returned to the musical path she believes she was destined for - and this time, she's here to stay.

Her journey into music began at 21, performing in cabaret shows while balancing a full-time job in hospitality.

"They always described me as a 'soulful singer', or seh 'Di sultry singer deh here'," she laughed.

The name stuck, and 'Sulltry' was born - an artiste who sings from the soul, pouring emotion into every lyric until her songs become balm for the spirit.

"The meaning behind it is a curated version of the definition that already exists because I'm an artiste who sings from the soul, sings with emotions, and I connect better being this way suh that the music is healing to others," the soulful artiste said.

"I give the heart what it needs by you listening and understanding what my music can do for you, but I'm here to soothe and heal," she laughed.

Now, Sulltry is ready to reintroduce that voice to the world with a stunning rendition of Freddie McKay's timeless classic, Picture on the Wall. The reimagined track, produced by Grammy-nominated hitmaker Seanizzle, is already turning heads for its emotional delivery and fresh sound - a fusion that bridges classic reggae with a contemporary vibe. But what makes the song special, Sulltry revealed, is that it found her.

It all started during a studio session with Seanizzle and his team. As fate would have it, a friend in the room began reminiscing about a tune from his childhood.

"There was a friend who was [trying to remember] a song he'd always listened to as a child and another person just said, 'I know the song, Picture on the Wall' and he said 'Yes, that's the song Sulltry is gonna sing'," she recalled.

The moment, she said, felt predestined.

Her take on the reggae classic carries a blend of nostalgia and modern soul, bridging the gap between eras and emotions. Since its release on September 19, Sulltry's version has been praised for its warmth and sincerity, resonating with fans who say it stirs old memories while offering comfort for new wounds.

"People can relate to it on many different levels [because] it covers such a broad emotional path, so it just depends on where it falls in your life," she added.

For Grammy-nominated Seanizzle, he saw Sulltry's star quality from outset.

"We haven't had any vocalist like Sulltry in years so when I heard her, it was like a breath a fresh air. It was also excitement for me because I have so many ideas, many music/instrumentals, and always searching for the artiste who will deliver a perfect song on it. When I met Sulltry, all a di 'I's dem dot up and all a di 'T's dem cross up," he said. He underscored that Picture on the Wall was the perfect song choice as it "resonates deeply with Jamaicans and people across the world, which makes her sound relatable".

"I've worked with a lot of greats and she has all the traits to become the next great," said Seanizzle.

Though the music space has become much more competitive and less empathetic in recent times, Sulltry is positive that now is the right time to embark on this journey.

"People want to be able to heal and relate to music like back in the days when they used to listen to some Bob [Marley] and Bob talked reality," she said.

"People want to feel like that again because things and time have changed and there's a lot a people suffering in silence - whether it's mental health or their daily struggles - everybody is struggling with something. I am not here to fill a gap of wanting to be like anyone but I'm really here to deliver what I have authentically, and that's fulfilling those who really need this. So it's not a competition for me. For those who really need me, I'll be there," Sulltry said.