After nearly a decade prioritizing healthcare work and amplifying Caribbean women in entertainment through a non-profit awards initiative, US-based reggae vocalist Mye Laurell is grabbing attention across Jamaican airwaves with a warm, soulful reimagining of Diana Ross’ 1970s classic hit *It’s My House*. The new release, which puts a distinct reggae spin on the iconic pop-soul track, was crafted by veteran reggae producer Richie Stephens, who first proposed the remake idea and shepherded its release through his independent Pot of Gold record label.
In an interview discussing the project, Laurell – whose legal name is Laurel Nurse – shared that the entire concept stemmed from Stephens’ belief that her unique vocal tone echoes the legendary Motown diva’s signature sound. “Richie was the one who picked this song, not me. He told me my speaking voice reminded him so much of Diana Ross that I had to record it,” Laurell explained. “At first, I wasn’t familiar with the original, so he walked me through every part of the track and told me to trust his direction. That’s exactly what I did.”
The original version of *It’s My House* first appeared on Ross’ 1979 studio album *The Boss*, written and produced by the celebrated American songwriting partnership Ashford & Simpson. Centered on themes of radical independence and personal empowerment, the track resonated with audiences across the globe, earning a modest commercial showing: it climbed to No. 27 on Billboard’s U.S. R&B Singles chart and reached No. 32 on the UK singles chart, cementing its status as a beloved cult classic among soul and pop fans.
For Laurell, the warm reception of her new remake has already exceeded expectations. Beyond her work as a professional recording artist, Laurell maintains a full-time career as a registered nurse, and she is far better known in Jamaican entertainment circles for her philanthropic and advocacy work than her recent music. Even so, she says the public response to her new release has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. “The feedback we’ve gotten from listeners so far has just been phenomenal,” she said.
Laurell’s return to recording comes on the heels of her years-long work leading the Queens Of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies (QORIHC), the awards organization she founded in 2016 to shine a spotlight on women working across all segments of the Caribbean entertainment industry. As the initiative approaches its 10th anniversary in 2026, Laurell and her team are preparing to mark the milestone with a special celebratory QORIHC Ball, scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium in St Andrew. The landmark event will be hosted under the patronage of Rose Tavares-Finson, with 2020 Miss Jamaica Universe Miqueal Symone-Williams tapped as the event’s guest speaker.
Laurell emphasized that QORIHC fills a critical gap in the Jamaican entertainment ecosystem, working to elevate women who often go unrecognized for their behind-the-scenes and on-stage contributions. “QORIHC’s core mission is to boost the social morale of women across Jamaica,” she explained. “We publicly and proudly celebrate the tireless work that women do in every corner of the local entertainment industry, work that so often goes unacknowledged.”
Music has been a lifelong passion for Laurell, who launched her recording career after relocating to the United States, scoring early success with a string of popular reggae radio singles. One of her earliest breakout hits was a widely praised cover of Gregory Isaacs’ legendary reggae track *Night Nurse*, and she earned a major career honor in 2007 and 2008 when she took home the New Jersey Reggae Award for Best Female Singer. She eventually stepped back from full-time recording to focus on her healthcare career and build the QORIHC initiative from the ground up.
Her comeback to active recording was sparked by a standout performance at the 2024 QORIHC Awards ceremony, where she opened the show alongside fellow reggae artist Gem Myers performing a rendition of Whitney Houston’s *Greatest Love of All*. “After that performance, Gem told me I had her full blessing to get back to singing and pick up the path I left off, while still growing QORIHC,” she said. After spending almost 10 years building the awards organization, Laurell says the moment felt right to step back into the spotlight and pursue her own creative goals again. “Now I’m back in music full force, and that’s how this remake of *It’s My House* came to be,” she added.