Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Alize Levy - Winston Sill

Alize Levy, daughter of popular reggae artiste, Barrington Levy, has joined the music fraternity but, unlike her father, who is known for reggae, she wants to become a popular R&B artiste.

"He (Barrington Levy) asked me do reggae and I said absolutely not! But, I am not against doing reggae," she said.

Although Levy would be better able to pursue a R&B career in the States, she says she has decided to start out in Jamaica because this is where she has her strongest links.

From the age of five, Levy knew she wanted to be a singer. At 16, she started to record and, at 19, she released her first single, Chocolate Loving, featuring Mr Lexx.

In a few weeks, her most recent single, He Doesn't Know My Name, will be released. The video for the song will also be her first and shows a very sexual side to the artiste. But, she says she does not always sing about relationships, but also other issues, as will be reflected in a single she is currently working on called Cry. This song is about a woman who becomes involved in the drug trade.

Levy, who writes her own songs, says she is inspired by things that happen around her.

"I'm one for writing about things I've experienced or people close to me have experienced," she said.

Levy not only wants to collaborate with other artistes such as Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Ishana and others, but she also would like to write for a few as well, highlighting international stars Beyoncé, Brandy and Keyshia Cole.

Although Levy is still making links and trying to pin down some of the artistes who she wants to work with, she is pressing along with her recordings, as she is aiming to put out her first album by next year. The album will feature a collaboration with her father and also a cover of her father's song, Be Strong.

In the meantime, Levy says she is aiming to leave a big mark on the music industry.

"I really intend to leave a big, huge size seven (size nine in Jamaica) footprint on the earth," she said.