JoZee finds her reggae calling with ‘Who God Says I Am’

Gospel artiste JoZee grew up in Chicago with Sicily in her blood—but Jamaica has been beating in her heart for decades. Now the Italian-American is turning a childhood obsession with reggae into a full-circle musical moment with Who God Says I Am, her first reggae gospel album, produced by veteran Jamaican hitmaker Danny Brownie for Main Street Records. The 15-track project, due October 6, 2026, explores faith, identity and the deceptively simple question at its core: Who does God say I am? For JoZee, reggae isn't a new experiment. “I have loved reggae music since I was a little girl,” she said, recalling Third World’s 96 Degrees In The Shade as one of the first Jamaican records to capture her imagination. That discovery sent her down a musical rabbit hole. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Jacob Miller and Marcia Griffiths became part of her education, followed by Eek-A-Mouse, Barrington Levy, Yellowman, Super Cat and Shabba Ranks. “It’s been my favourite genre of music and I’ve always dreamt about recording reggae music,” she said. Her own musical journey began early. JoZee was performing by age nine, later studied music at DePaul University and eventually landed a recording deal with Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records. Her childhood soundtrack was just as diverse. Growing up around her parents' Sicilian restaurant, she heard everything from Frank Sinatra and Pavarotti to Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand and Bob Marley. JoZee sees similarities between her Sicilian heritage and the Jamaican culture she has embraced. “Sicilians are very proud and passionate people just like Jamaicans,” she said, pointing to the importance both cultures place on food, family, respect and hard work. But one ingredient was missing from her reggae dream: the right Jamaican producer. Everything changed during a Christmas visit to Jamaica in 2023. Danny Brownie, a longtime friend of JoZee's husband, invited her into his studio while the couple was staying at his home. What began as an informal musical idea quickly became something more serious. “Before we knew it, we had written and recorded the very first song for my album,” she recalled. Brownie subsequently became a major influence on her reggae approach, repeatedly reminding her to “stick to the melody” and “ride the rhythms”. “Danny always knows what to do to get a heartfelt performance out of you,” JoZee said. “He’s a perfectionist, and his ear is impeccable.” That chemistry ultimately produced Who God Says I Am. At a time when entertainers are routinely measured by streams, followers, views, likes and chart positions, JoZee's album searches for validation somewhere algorithms cannot provide it. Its answer is God. The project also connects the seemingly scattered pieces of her story—the Chicago girl raised around a Sicilian restaurant, the formally trained musician, the Qwest Records signee, the Christian singer and the reggae fanatic who spent years dreaming of making authentic Jamaican music. Now, decades after reggae first grabbed her as a little girl, JoZee is finally getting her wish. She came searching for a reggae sound. With Who God Says I Am, JoZee says she found her identity too.