The women who keep the music turning: Princess Nadene

By Antonella Badchkam

I had the privilege of interviewing Princess Nadene, the daughter of the legendary reggae artist Dennis Brown. Growing up surrounded by her father’s iconic music, Nadene has recently stepped into the world of DJing. In this interview, she shares her incredible journey of not only supporting but also playing her father’s music, ensuring that his legacy and memory continue to live on.

Hi Nadene, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us.

To start off, could you introduce yourself for those who may not know you yet?

My name is Nadene - AKA Princess Nadene. I'm a South-London-based DJ who is in love with all genres of music, but specifically Reggae! Daughter of Reggae Icon Dennis Brown. 

How and when did your journey as a music selector begin? At what age did you first become interested in it?

I have been a ‘selector’ at home for years, always playing tunes. I have always taken pride in selecting music. I used to say I could be an A&R because my musical ear is sheer perfection! My older sister Leigh-Anne would also school me on dad’s albums, or we would exchange our favourite songs by him. Becoming a selector publicly, though, it was actually by accident. 

Unfortunately, my sister Leigh-Anne passed away in July 2023, and we had always said we were going to head back to Jamaica to see what was happening for our dad, visit his grave, and just take it all in as it had been well overdue. Now I just felt that I had to make it happen.

I would say grief took me back to Jamaica in January 2024, as I knew Leigh-Anne would have been so happy I’d gone. I stayed in Jamaica for a little while and was really thinking about how I could ensure both their memories were kept alive in my own way. I share the same birthday as my dad, so the 1st February is always bittersweet for me, but I love how the world loves him to this day.

I returned to the UK, reviewing my dad’s music collection, and wanted to add to it so I could pass it down to my two sons in years to come. That’s when I started dropping into local record shops and had a conversation with the magnificent Dub Plate Pearl, who invited me to attend one of their open-deck nights at Lion Vibes Records in Brixton. I had never played Vinyl before, never intended to, and the rest, I guess, is history! 

Being the daughter of the Crowned Prince of Reggae, Dennis Brown, your roots run deep. What’s your earliest memory of music in the house—and did it feel like your path was always meant to be musical?

I don’t feel like my path was always going to be musical, but I have always been very creative, and I’m confident the two go hand in hand. Dad’s voice was always flowing through the house. I must say, growing up, we never really cared for his music in that way. 

It was not until I was in my late teens that I recall Leigh-Anne and I taking a trip with Dad to a recording studio, and people were really excited that he was there. At that point, I knew he was a big deal, and then more so when he passed away, and the world was in mourning.

Besides your father—who clearly had a major influence on your musical taste—were there any other artists who shaped your musical education or inspired you along the way?

Gosh, so many. I would have to say Uncle Freddie McGregor is at the top of the list; he really looked out for us over the years. I love artists like Beres Hammond, John Holt, Buju Banton, Garnett Silk, Sanchez - so many!

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take three albums with you, which ones would you choose and why?

That’s a really hard question. I would take Another Day In Paradise by my dad because my favourite song is ‘Queen Majesty’. Next would be the album Inseperable by my dad, because the song ‘Inseperable’ was mine and Leigh-Anne’s song that holds very special memories for us, and lastly would be the album Can’t Stop A Man by Beres Hammond, every song on that album is a hit, and I probably listen to that album every week. 

You can probably tell by now I adore Lover’s Rock!

Do you think it’s more challenging for women to succeed as selectors compared to men? What’s been your experience in that regard? What’s changed over the years?

I am not sure I am best placed to answer this question as I don’t think I have been in the vinyl community for that long. From what I have seen, there are definitely more men in the industry but I have found that people have been super encouraging and motivating about playing vinyl in the scene. I know it is not easy to do so I take my hat off to the women that are standing tall and doing their thing!

Are there any women in the music scene—past or present—who you look up to? What is it about them that inspires you?

Dub Plate Pearl was where it all began, so I’d have to say her for sure. Kaya M, Lady Bigz, Selector Becca and Sistren Shirley. I stalk their socials because, as they say, you should never stop learning. I am a newbie when it comes to selecting for the public, and I still have a long way to go. Yes, music is in my blood, and I choose to learn from those who came before me, with the hope of always learning something new or a key takeaway that will make me greater than I am.

For a woman just starting as a vinyl selector, what advice would you pass on? Are there lessons you had to learn the hard way that you’d love to share?

The advice I would pass on is to start, don’t overthink it. Invest in yourself and your craft. Speak to others who are already doing what you want to do. Get out there and socialise, look, take mental notes, and do your homework.

The community is big enough for everyone. Not everybody will be willing to help you, and that’s OK. Since I have only been here a short time, I've personally found that those who want to see you win will support you wholeheartedly.

I invested in DJ equipment so I could play digital and vinyl, which I now do. As I mentioned, I have never played vinyl before, and I've also invested in studio time to perfect my craft, while ultimately having fun. 

This isn’t about financial gain at all. I enjoy the musical journey - who knows where it will go, but the trajectory has been nothing but amazing to date.

Lastly, a key takeaway for everything in life… do good and good will always follow you.