Aza Lineage to release long-awaited debut album Rebel Daawta
Key Points(5)
- There are albums that are sparked from sudden inspiration, and then there are slow burn albums, born from a years-long journey and complete with wisdom and insight that reflect a particular era of an artist’s life.
- For Jamaican singer and songwriter Aza Lineage, Rebel Daawta —her forthcoming debut album produced by legendary record producer and sound system pioneer King Jammy—is the culmination of a project nearly ten years in the making.
- Releasing June 19 through VP Records, is both fiercely personal and wittingly defiant: a body of work rooted in rebellion, not in rebellion for rebellion's sake, but in a rebellion founded upon a radical sense of knowledge of self and self-trust.
- "The title actually comes from a moniker I picked for myself years ago," Aza explains.
- "People think of a rebel as someone going against everything, but for me it's really about marching to the beat of your own drum—turning inward and allowing your inner compass to guide you." These themes run throughout Rebel Daawta .
Jamaican singer-songwriter Aza Lineage is preparing to release her debut album Rebel Daawta, a project she describes as the result of nearly ten years of creative development and personal growth.
Set for release on June 19 via VP Records, the album is produced by legendary Jamaican producer and sound system pioneer King Jammy and represents a deeply personal body of work shaped by years of writing, revisiting, and refining material.
There are albums born from sudden inspiration, and others that take shape slowly over time. Rebel Daawta falls firmly into the latter category, with Aza Lineage describing it as a “labour of love” reflecting a decade-long journey through change, self-discovery, and artistic evolution.
“The title actually comes from a moniker I picked for myself years ago,” she said. “People think of a rebel as someone going against everything, but for me it's really about marching to the beat of your own drum—turning inward and allowing your inner compass to guide you.”
That theme of self-trust and inner direction runs throughout the project, which Aza says captures different phases of her life as songs were repeatedly revisited and reshaped over time.
“It’s been a labour of love. Ten years is a long part of anyone’s life. The album tells the story of what was happening during that time,” she explained.
The project also marks a significant collaboration with King Jammy, whose influence on reggae and dancehall spans decades. Aza first encountered his work through sound system culture before meeting him in 2016, when she auditioned and began what would become a long-term creative partnership.
“When I auditioned, he was impressed,” she said. “We agreed to work together, and the relationship just grew from there.”
While rooted in reggae tradition, Rebel Daawta is not framed as a nostalgic project. Instead, it reflects a contemporary approach to roots music, aiming to connect with modern audiences while preserving its foundational sound.
Aza said she hopes listeners will feel the persistence and growth embedded in the music.
“I hope they’re moved by the music. I hope they can feel that reggae is still alive,” she said.
Beyond her own career, she has also used the project’s rollout to highlight the contributions of women in reggae, particularly within roots music, where she says recognition is often limited despite strong talent and consistency.
“I’ve seen so many talented women,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t receive the support they deserve, but they continue because they understand the significance of the work.”
Ahead of the album release, Aza Lineage is scheduled to perform live in New York City on June 18 at Crown Hill Theatre, followed by a performance in Miramar, Florida on June 20 at VP Records Miramar.
