Black Music Month: Featuring Empress Nas

Nastonshia George aka Empress Nas is is a multi talented entrepreneur fiercely navigating her way to the top in the Canadian Reggae music industry. As CEO of Cut and Clear Music Productions Inc. Nas takes on the roles of artist manager, music publisher, A&R, booking agent, producer and writer while operating her record label & recording studio in Toronto with a steady beat and conscious heart & mind.

Cut & Clear Music Productions Inc. founded in 2015 is now home to 2020 Juno Nominated Reggae Artist Petraa, (NEVER BROKEN), has produced two albums in the last three years (Cut & Clear Riddim and Lyrically International) which garnered attention throughout Africa and the Caribbean radio stations and featured artists from Canada, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Toronto, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Empress Nas Shares her message of reggae consciousness and talks a bit about her experience navigating the industry as a woman of colour. 

What’s your message you would like to share with us ?  

In the community reggae music promotes positive energy and consciousness. It opens awareness on certain issues that we face intellectually,  spiritually and physically.

What Artists have you worked with?

Petraa who I am managing currently and she received a Juno Nomination for best Reggae Recording of the year. Empress Divine who has received many awards in the reggae community and reggae sensation Donna Makeda. I have started a project with Reggae artist Jahmali who has been predominant in the reggae industry with one of his famous songs titled El Shaddai. In short I have worked with artists on many levels, organizing shows in the Scarborough area as well as in the downtown core, which has featured over say 75 artists whose genre is reggae.

What kind of support do you think the reggae community needs from allies? 

In the reggae community I would say that financial support, more platform for exposure as well as more awareness to artists in the community who are making positive moves in inspiring the youths as well as each other.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a women of colour trying to break into the Canadian music industry
Some of the challenges I face as a woman of  colour in the Canadian Music Industry operating in a Male dominated Industry speaks volume on the gender equality, therefore just being a female is a challenge as well as the fact that I am also a woman of colour. Not being able to access resources based on the genre of music Cut & Clear Music Productions Inc chooses to embark on. The lack of unity within the industry when it comes to assisting each other.

What are some of the things you have done that have had a positive impact?

I created my own online radio station and with my studio to be able to promote my artists internationally through the Caribbean and Africa. This allowed me help other women to bystep a lot of the issues we have to have to deal with like misogynists in the studio and promotional sectors.

MORE ABOUT EMPRESS NAS

Nastonshia George aka Empress Nas is an artists manager, promoter, event planner, booking agent,  producer, writer, studio owner, music label owner  and is also employed with the Ministry of the Attorney General as a Registrar and possesses a legal background, in the capacity of a legal administrator. It is safe to say that Empress Nas is a well rounded entrepreneur. As CEO of Cut and Clear Music Productions Inc., her aim is to showcase local and international artists who aspire to be great in their art. Empress Nas has produced two albums in the last three years (Cut & Clear Riddim and Lyrically International) which featured artists from Canada, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Toronto, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Empress Nas has showcased many artists at events across Toronto in the capacity of an event planner and promoter. She is also featured twice in the Reggae Xclusive Magazine, as well as the 2020 calendar.

It was several years ago that she came to the realization that she has a gift for pointing out good music. "Whenever a song is good I can always tell, I get goose bumps", something she tends to say quite often. It's safe to say that such a reaction to great music is a gift.

In 2015, along with a business partner at the time, she started Cut and Clear Music Productions, the business has since changed to Cut & Clear Music Productions Inc.

She is currently artist manager to Juno Nominee Petraa. In her capacity as an artist manager, Empress Nas finalizes deals between her artists and producers. She is also in charge of all administrative documentation included but not limited to SOCAN Applications, FACTOR registrations as well as grant writing etc. In the capacity  as a Toronto promoter (working with Way Up Promotions, )a company in conjunction with Cut & Clear Music Productions Inc., Empress Nas utilizes her platform as a way to raise awareness of events, artists, music, businesses, etc. in the community.

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