Lifestyle

Eight Years Of Soul, Sounds And Just Vibes

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Essence Band has been setting the soundtrack for Bahamians and visitors for nearly a decade, blending R&B, rake and scrape, and classic crowd favorites.

Published

1 week ago

January 16, 2026

Sasha Lightbourne

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Essence Band has been setting the soundtrack for Bahamians and visitors for nearly a decade, blending R&B, rake and scrape, and classic crowd favorites.

Now as they mark eight years together, the group is reflecting on the journey and preparing to celebrate in grand style.

Our Sasha Lightbourne sat down with the band ahead of their anniversary show.

In eight years, the Essence Band has grown from a small group of musicians into a 9 member powerhouse, now a weekly fixture at the Jazz Bar at Baha Mar.

For both locals and tourists, they’ve become a familiar and favourite sound.

And as their anniversary approaches, they’re taking a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come.

“Eight years, first of all just grateful to god for bringing us this far cause a lot of bands don’t make it that far; so eight years for me as the leader is a nod from God to keep going; if you can do eight, you can do 10, if you can do 10, you can do 15” – Victor Johnson, Band Leader

And for lead drummer, Jermaine Taylo, the milestone represents more than music.

“I feel a great sense of pride, good sense of accomplishment, good sense of security and family, and that’s important in groups. I believe cohesion off and on stage lends a lot to on-stage chemistry and performance.”

Lead vocalist Charisa Smith says the journey has been one filled with grace.

“Year 8 for me means refinement so for a lot of us our lives have changed drastically with babies, engagements all the things so over the years we’ve learnt to be more grounded, more focused, more resilient and more refined and I think it’ll be even more of that in the future”

So what can we expect from the band come January 30th at the anniversary concert?

“I’m not giving you any insight into what exact songs but just know you’re going to but just know you’re going to feel great by the time you leave the concert and you gone hear some new stuff too.” – Victor Johnson, Band leader

“A journey; I don’t think we perform just to perform we do so that everyone understands and feels deeply what’s going on and they enjoy the ride and thats really what its about the experience. You’re going to have a good time; you’re going to hear alot of the classics that you love, that you’ve grown to love and some new songs as well that you’ll jam to and have a good time.” – Charisa, Lead singer

“There are some numbers that will be newly added to the essence repertoire; Vick made sure of that, he wanted that to happen; we wanted that to happen a long time ago but we been busy people but 2026 we bringing out some new ammo.” – Jermaine Taylor, lead drummer

The essence band’s eighth anniversary concert takes place January 30th, at the moat at Fort Charlotte.

Doors open at 7pm.