Self-discovery becomes art in BodineVictoria's first release of 2020 Sugar in a Plum. Known for new spins on nostalgic ring-play songs, Bodine re-thinks “Brown Girl in the Ring" popularized by Tony “Exuma the Obeah Man" McKay.
During the first verse she recites what she hopes will be the mantra for women everywhere, “I'ze a Coconut Goddess, Cocoa skin drippin’ madness", a recitation of power, self-affirmation and beauty.
“I remember thinking at one point during my childhood that I was ugly; with my open gate and overbite and dark skin and natural ‘peasy' hair.
I thought this about myself despite my parent’s constant reminders that I was beautiful, smart and a queen.
It took me forever to appreciate my skin and my unique beauty, intelligence and power and I realize that it’s something many women and young girls struggle with to this day”.
Sugar in a Plum is actually 4 years in the making, having gone through multiple revisions. This version is Volume 1 in the series with volume 2 set to be released with another feature artist during the summer.
The sound is Junkanoo meets Afrobeats with Bodine flexing a bit of her Hip-Hop skills to give her cadence a Southern Trap vibe with all of her Bahamian Dialect in-tact.
Sugar in a Plum is produced by Rik Carey with all original instrumentation and features the expert guitar skills of Pat Carey prominently featured.
“This record is a declaration of my Bahamian-ness and heritage. I want women to know that they are the Sugar in a Plum! We are the reason society moves forward, we are capable of balancing our professional obligations while maintaining our sensuality and sacred energy.
There are quite a few metaphors in the lyrics that I’m hoping people come to not only recognize but internalize”, says Bodine.
What has BodineVictoria been working on since releasing the video for Juicy Fruit? Bodine plays the entrancing Rovel in Travolta Cooper’s Where in the World is Wally?, a television series that explores Bahamian cultural and supernatural phenomenon.
Bodine’s home-based web cooking series, #BodinePot aired on Sunday, April 5th on YouTube after she realized that her following was as equally interested in her food as they were in her music.
Finally, Bodine has been entertaining audiences from the Bahamas with her last shows being the Best of the Best Regatta, the Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival and an upcoming show in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sugar in a Plum:
Written by: Bodine V. Johnson
Composed by: Rik Carey, C Sharp Productions, Bahamas
Styling by: Kejuana Beneby, KBad Studios
Hair by: Yashica Carey, Afrotique Hair Studio
Makeup by: Mandisa Kerr, Shades of Beauty
Promotional photos by: Farreno Ferguson
Here’s more to note:
Bodine has rebranded to BodineVictoria to separate herself digitally from the other “Bodines" in music which include Bodine Koehler and pop music singer Bodine. BodineVictoria’s new brand is a little bit of Obeah woman, a little bit Titta and a whole lot of Bahamian Queen.
