Sasha Dias - Break Free (2014) Lossless

THERE is usually some anxiety whenever an artiste records and releases his or her first album. Singer Sasha Dias is no exception to the rule.

The South Florida-born vocalist's debut set, Break Free, will be released digitally tomorrow. It is also out on compact disc on LTK20 Records through a distribution deal with VP Records.

Dias, 23, is satisfied with the 14-track album which is produced by Lindel Thompson.

"The most pleasing thing is we took our time with it, there was no rush. That was important for all of us," she said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

Most of the songs on Break Free were co-written by Thompson, Fitz Livermore and Fabian Smith, including the lead single That's it.

Another highlight of the album is an acoustic take on the ballad, Power of Love originally recorded by Jeniffer Rush and made popular by Celine Dion.

Dias was born in Fort Lauderdale to Jamaican parents. Her grandfather, Winston Dias, was a singer who had a minor hit during the 1960s with Cercy Tea.

She followed his path and went into the recording studio. Her first song, I Want You, was released in 2006, followed four years later by a cover of Miley Cyrus' The Climb.

Music took a break for the books when Dias enrolled in the Everest Institute in Georgia where she majored in medical systems.

For the past year, she has concentrated on recording Break Free and making a name for herself on the South Florida show scene.

"I'm taking it seriously but I'm also enjoying myself 'cause I don't want to lose that,"

Dias said.