Sebastian Braham to release first album in 13 years
Gospel recording artiste and minister Sebastian Braham took some time away from the music scene due to an injury. He is now set to release his six-track EP titled Fight This Battle For Me in August.
Fight This Battle For Me is his first body of work since his debut album God Has Been There was released in 2011.
“Honestly, persons have been asking for something new over the years, but I am extremely happy for this project and I promise it will not be another 13 years. Also, I met in an accident which caused me to be off the scene for a while because I was unable to walk and had to undergo therapy to walk again,” Braham told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.
He collaborated with producer Kamar “Danx” Forrest and gospel singer Petra-Kaye on the new EP.
“I was privileged to do a song with Petra-Kaye, called Yes, He Did,” he said.
He also shared the inspiration behind the EP’s title.
“The inspiration came about from being in rehearsal with the singers and musicians, and this song [Fight This Battle For Me] seemed to be everyone’s favourite song on the EP. But over the years I’ve learned to let God fight so many battles for me and, honestly, He fights the battles way better,” said Braham, adding that the songs will comprise those that he had been singing through the years along with those that he was inspired to write.
Born in Runaway Bay in St Ann, he studied at Brown’s Town High School and was actively involved in church.
“I grew up worshipping at the Moving Church of God, and I was promoted from the children’s choir to the youth choir, then I was asked to serve as choir director for several choirs. My career in music began with me singing in church. After that, people started reaching out to me to sing at their church rallies and concerts, and from there I decided to record a single, which didn’t do well as I hoped, but I kept on going and I didn’t give up,” Braham shared.
Asked what he brought to the table musically, he said: “The songs that people have forgotten about, that we grew up on. As a traditional gospel artiste I am glad that I am able to carry on the music of my grandmother, because I feel traditional music is here to stay; no matter what.”
He continued: “My journey in music has not been an easy one. I’ve doing things on my own over the years from a young age and, honestly, it has been tough. No management, not being signed to any record label, but with the help of God I’ve made it thus far. There were days I felt like giving up on music, and these days it has been easier as God has placed some people along the journey to guide me along.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic Braham took on the challenge of the theatre world.
“During COVID-19, because we, as artistes, could not go on stage as normal, I found myself doing some writing on my phone. [I] never knew it would turn into a full play called Nosy Neighbah, which was written by myself and Andrea “Delcita” Wright. People have been asking for Part 2, but I’m not sure that will happen. I always wanted to act too, but I was told to stick to writing,” he disclosed.