Brettina

Brettina
Brettina modeling photo, July 2009, wearing a headband and a Nanette Lepore top
Background information
Birth name Brettina Lorena Robinson
Born (1976-12-08) December 8, 1976
Nassau, the Bahamas
Genres Jazz, Smooth jazz
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, actress, print model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2010–present
Labels Floating Bridge Media (independent)

Brettina Lorena Robinson (born December 8, 1976) is a Bahamian jazz singer-songwriter, model, and SAG actress, who lives in metropolitan Los Angeles.

Early life

Brettina was born in Nassau, the Bahamas. She moved to Chicago with her family while she was a toddler when her mother, gospel-singer/actress Leona Coakley Spring, began acting on the popular stage plays "The Crucible," and "The Other Cinderella."[1] Brettina moved back to the Bahamas during her school years.

Brettina began singing at age four, under the influence of her mother, as well as Theo and Kirk Coakley of the popular 1970 Funk/Soul group T-Connection.

While attending C.I. Gibson School in the Bahamas she was awarded the title "Miss C.I. Gibson", which made her eligible for Miss Bahamas Talented Teen.[2] Brettina won the title "Miss Bahamas Talented Teen",[3] and earned a university scholarship. She attended the University of Washington.[2][3]

Musical style and career

Brettina cites as her main influences Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn,[3][4] Shirley Bassey,[5] Sade, Adele, Diana Krall, Corinne Bailey Rae,Tiwa Savage and LIRA.[6] She sings jazz, and describes her style as "organic".[3][4]

Brettina's music is honest and unique. She sings about real life and a lot of her fans can connect with her because of that.

She's hoping to perform in South Africa sometime later as she has a huge following in that country and hopefully capture the European audience.

She draws from personal experience in her songwriting. For example, she cites her poor childhood as the inspiration for her song "Poor Old Times",[2] her fondness for chai as the inspiration for "Chai",[7] and childhood memories as the inspiration for covering the Belafonte-Burgess song "Island in the Sun".[8]

In addition to her jazz career, she has worked as a print model and an actress in national advertisements. As a singer, she has performed mainly in the Seattle and Los Angeles areas.[6][3][9]

She has performed in public on several occasions, for example:

  • CD release party (publicity appearance, but not a performance) [10]
  • Supermodel of the Bahamas show, with Bahamian R&B singer Julien [11]
  • Kirkland Performance Center "New Face of Jazz" concert November, 2010 [9]
  • "Up Close & Unplugged" concert January 26, 2011 [6][12]
  • Her talent agency announced a "New Face of Jazz World Tour".[13]
  • Caribbean Heritage Organization featured artist June 2013
  • Scheduled to appear at 20/50 Music Is Life Festival 2014, in Nassau Bahamas, may 8[14]

Awards

  • Brettina won the title Miss C.I. Gibson, which made her eligible for Miss Talented Teen Bahamas.
  • Brettina won the Hal Jackson Miss Talented Teen Bahamas and was awarded a scholarship.[6]
  • Brettina is an Ambassador for the reputable hair brand - Black Velvet Hair

Critical Acclaim

Brettina has been praised by a variety of critics, for example:

Philanthropy

Brettina supports several charitable causes, most visibly a donation in support of C.I. Gibson School, which she attended.[7] She also supports All Saints Camp, a shelter for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, with her mother.[2]

Discography

Studio albums: Brettina (2010), Taste (forthcoming)

  • Brettina (2010) [15]
    • "Paradise"
    • "Bahamian Girl"
    • "The Bug"
    • "Serafina"
    • "Poor Old Times"
    • "Chai"
    • "My Time to Shine"
    • "Pardon the Storm"
    • "Island in the Sun"
    • "One"
    • "Serafina" (bonus track with strings)

Music videos

  • "Bahamian Girl"[16]
  • "Bahamian Girl" (planned re-shoot)[17]
  • Brettina's untitled Sophomore Album is slated for sometime in fall of 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Christianson, Bill (22 November 2011). "Redmond's Bahama Mama: Many talents, one mission". Redmond Reporter. Sound Publishing, Inc. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chakara Bennett (February 5, 2010). "Fighting for her dream". The Nassau Guardian Online. The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biography". Brettina.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Interview with Bahamian Jazz Artist, Brettina Robinson". The Bahamas Weekly. April 30, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Special Guests Ms Charmaine, Pastor Chandra Williams, & Brettina (time 52:50)". Alysha Live. February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Brettina FAN PAGE". January 12, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Chakara Bennett (April 30, 2010). "Brettina's heart and soul". The Nassau Guardian Online. The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Beautiful Bahamian Girl". Bahamians Online. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Brettina: the New Face of Jazz". November 14, 2010. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ Tara Hunnewell (April 1, 2010). "Brettina Music, Brettina CD Release Party, RealTVfilms". RealTVfilms. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Brettina and Julien to perform at Supermodel of the Bahamas". The Bahamas Weekly. April 24, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Brettina. Up Close & Unplugged". Brettina FAN PAGE. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ "International Creative Talent Agency". International Creative Talent Agency. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bahamian night - May 8". Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Nadal, James (November 18, 2010). "Brettina". All About Jazz.
  16. ↑ "Brettina Robinson Beautiful Artist". Bahamians Online. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  17. ↑ Chakara Bennett (December 3, 2010). "Feeling the love". The Nassau Guardian. The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
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