American-born gospel performer JoZee, who has built a close creative partnership with celebrated Jamaican gospel deejay Prodigal Son, is gearing up to deliver a spirit-filled message of faith at the launch of Prodigal Son’s highly anticipated new project *Legacy*, scheduled for Saturday, June 6 at Kingston’s Swallowfield Chapel. The one-night event will also showcase dynamic sets from a roster of top names in Caribbean gospel music, including Leoneil Teape, Shepherd, Positive, Monty G, and Jason Mighty, promising a powerful evening of worship and celebration.
In an exclusive interview with the *Jamaica Observer* this Thursday, JoZee opened up about what she has learned from her collaborative work with Prodigal Son, praising his unique ability to blend engaging storytelling with profound spiritual truth. “Prodigal Son is a true master of his craft. Every idea he brings is sharp and intentional, and he has this incredible gift to make a biblical message feel accessible and fun, or turn around and dig into deep, life-changing truth,” she explained. “His lyrics carry so much weight, and his stage energy is unstoppable — you never know what powerful moment he’ll bring next. I’ve watched crowds go from jumping in joyful praise one minute to responding to an altar call the next. Working alongside him has taught me more than I could have imagined.”
For JoZee, the invitation to minister at the Jamaica launch was a joyful honor, rooted in her deep personal connection to the island nation. “When Prodigal Son asked me to be part of this launch, I was over the moon. We’ve cut three tracks together so far, and one of those collaborations features on this new *Legacy* album. Jamaica is home for me now, and Prodigal is family. This event is also double as an on-stage celebration of his birthday, which makes it even more special,” she shared.
During the show, JoZee will perform the title track from her own upcoming album *Who God Says I Am*, along with a selection of her previously released singles, before joining Prodigal Son for their joint performance. “Performing for Jamaican audiences has always been such a warm, welcoming experience for me. I always invite listeners into every song I sing — I want people to have joy, but leave encountering Jesus in worship, and that’s exactly what happens every time,” she added.
Against the backdrop of global uncertainty and widespread unrest, JoZee emphasized that the core message of the gospel remains more relevant than ever. “It might sound cliché, but Jesus really is the answer. He’s our only steady anchor in a world that feels so unsteady right now, and the only hope for people who feel lost. I’ve noticed more people turning to Christ now than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. People need to hear how deeply Jesus loves them, how He’s ready to rewrite their stories and give them that unexplainable peace only He can give,” said the artist, who first began performing at just 9 years old.
JoZee splits her time between Jamaica and the United States, after marrying a Jamaican man more than a decade ago. It was around that same time that she stepped away from a successful career in mainstream secular music to dedicate herself fully to gospel ministry. Early in her career, JoZee was personally signed to Quincy Jones’ iconic Qwest label, distributed through Warner Music Group, and recorded backing vocals for some of the biggest names in pop music, including Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, and Enrique Iglesias.
“As much as I loved getting to work with those incredible artists, I knew I had to walk away. I wanted to surrender my whole life to God and follow His purpose for me, not the path the world had laid out,” she explained.
Her collaborative track with Prodigal Son, *Dancin’ Like King David*, produced by legendary Jamaican producer Danny Browne, grew from an unexpected social media challenge. “When Prodigal Son released *Play di Gospel Music Inna the Dance*, he put out a verse challenge on Instagram and tagged me to take part. I was shocked — I’d never sung on a dancehall track before,” JoZee recalled. “When I sat down to write my verse, I thought about how King David danced wildly with joy when the Arc of the Covenant was brought back to Israel, even when his wife thought he was being foolish. When Danny Browne heard my verse, he loved it so much he asked me to expand it into a full song, and we co-wrote the rest of the lyrics together. I recorded the vocals in my home studio and sent them over to him, he mixed and mastered the track, and he released it as a single through his Main Street Records imprint.”
JoZee says the track carries a simple, accessible message that she hopes will reach beyond the walls of traditional church spaces. “My goal is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere — to people who already go to church, and especially to people who never step foot in one. The lyric says it best: ‘Gospel music got the dancehall behaving.’ I truly believe gospel music should be played everywhere. How else will people hear the message and encounter Jesus if we only play it inside church buildings?” she asked.
Working with Browne, she added, allowed her to stay authentic to her artistic voice while exploring new musical territory that fits her calling. “Danny is a total genius — creativity just pours out of him. He’s honestly the best producer I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a lot of great ones. Danny is deeply rooted in his faith, and writing with him is completely effortless. His tracks have such incredible energy and vibe,” she said. “He’s a master at crafting a unique signature sound, and he knows exactly what he wants to create. I’ve loved reggae music since I was a little girl growing up in Chicago, but I’d never recorded a reggae track before I met Danny. I’d never heard my voice over a reggae beat. Danny walked me through every rhythm, and helped me create a fresh new sound that feels like me, but with that perfect Caribbean twist. He does love to tease me about my attempts at patois, though,” she laughed.