Sharon Marley Rises Into a New Era With FIREBIRD
Sharon Marley has spent decades helping shape and preserve Jamaica’s musical legacy, first as a member of the Grammy-winning Melody Makers and later as an educator, cultural steward, and solo artist. Now, she is stepping fully into her own creative voice with FIREBIRD, her long-awaited debut solo album.
Blending reggae with blues, jazz, soul, and R&B, FIREBIRD is rooted in themes of healing, resilience, family, and transformation. We caught up with Sharon Marley to discuss this new chapter, finding her voice as a solo artist, the inspiration behind FIREBIRD, and carrying the Marley legacy forward while creating a path that is uniquely her own.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
@Iamsharonmarley is my social media handle. I grew up in Trench Town Jamaica with my parents, Bob and Rita Marley. I’m a daughter of the soil who has toured the world with my brothers Ziggy and Stephen and my sister Cedella. Together we are called The Melody Makers and have won three Grammy Awards.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
This album Firebird is my first solo project. It’s 11 tracks of music recorded in the 432htz Love/Healing frequency. This body of work was four years in the making and is Livicated to my mother.
Walk us through your creative progress when creating music.
Initially, creating music was purely for the fun of it as music flowed freely in our household. Jazz, Opera, Gospel, R&B, Ska and Reggae, we sang and danced to all different genres. Now, in 2026, I find my music is more intentional and inspiring. First, I must clear my mind and focus in on what I’m feeling and what I want my audience to feel. Visualization. I see the love Frequency like electricity running through my veins and coming out of my fingertips as I share this healing energy with the world. Of course, as a singer I try to take care of my voice, honey loquat and teas, sing in the steaming shower and hum on my way to the studio.
Now that the music is out, what does the ‘road ahead’ look like? Beyond tours and videos, what’s one ‘bucket list’ goal you hope to achieve with this release?
I will take what I get for the road ahead because I’m being led by powers that are far greater than I can explain. Doors I never imagined are opening and opportunities come knocking. I walk by Faith and not by Sight.
Every artist has a ‘lightbulb moment’ where things just clicked. Looking back, what’s the one performance or milestone that made you realize, ‘Okay, this is what I was meant to do’?
My performance at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) in 2024 was my Reawakening. This was for the release of my single “STEPPAH” featuring Jamaican icon Big Youth. It was my first-time performing solo, live. I had butterflies! The audience welcomed me back with standing ovations and this gave me such an amazing feeling. I realized I was not done.
If you were curated a ‘Must-Listen’ playlist of emerging artists right now, who is the first person you’d add?
I love Neo-Soul music so Erykah Badu, Sade, Jill Scott and D’Angelo are some of my favorites. As far as new emerging artists, I would say Tems got my attention.
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next, and for someone seeing you for the first time, what should they expect from a Sharon Marley live experience?
Come August 27th I will be playing live with my band at Toronto’s Ode Hotel (1417 Dundas St. West) for an intimate, up close and personal experience. Here I will be doing songs from the Firebird album as well as some old favorites like “One Draw” and “No Woman No Cry”. After the performance I will sit for an open Q&A. This is my favorite segment as I get to interact one-on-one with my audience. Persons who will be seeing me for the first time can expect an emotionally explosive experience.