‘She’s Royal’ Singer On St. Croix For ‘Food For Your Soul’ Festival

You know him best for the smash hit “She’s Royal,” the popular reggae love song that has reverberated the world over — in concerts, at weddings, on buses, in cars, stadiums, and certainly, bedrooms. Tarrus Riley is the man behind that recording. Always the cheerful one, Riley landed on St. Croix Thursday night in preparation for his Friday night performance at Canegata Ballpark. He posed for a pic and made time for an interview with VI Consortium.

First things first, VIC  wanted to know how the man, whose only mission is to “make the people feel nice,” was doing.

“I’m great, man!” Riley proclaimed.

When asked what the people should expect during his performance, the headliner said, “Expect a live concert. When I say live, I mean expect an energetic concert, you know what I mean? Dance music, listening music, music for the lovers, music to listen to culture. Different kinds of flavors. It’s going to be hot like fire.” Riley flew in from Florida for the show.

This is not his first time to the island, of course. Having performed at other events in the past, Riley said, “VI people give me a whole heap of love, all over the Virgin Islands — including St. Croix, so it’s always a joy.”

Food For Your Soul music festival flyer

At the airport, the scene was hectic, as islanders and visitors alike awaited family and friends, most coming from away to enjoy this weekend’s festivities.

‘Food For Your Soul’, the festival Riley will be performing at tonight, starts a 9 p.m. and takes place at the Canegata Ball Park in Gallows Bay. Riley will undoubtedly be performing “She’s Royal” that propelled him to stardom. VI Consortium asked Riley whether the song was written for a particular woman or for women in general.

“Well, it’s a song written to pay respect to women, and it’s definitely a big and popular song from a breakthrough album, Parables. It’s good,” he said.

Unsatisfied with this answer, VIC pressed further, trying to understand whether the song’s lyrics were born in the depths of Riley’s heart, bursting with love for that one girl.

“It’s for everyone. Everyone. That’s why people can use it for every woman,” Riley maintained.

Moving right along, Jamaican-born Riley said he expected his performance tonight to be “long enough,” and revealed that he will be singing a few songs from his new album titled, Love Situations.

VI Consortium also asked Riley about “My Day,: a song that seems to be on a mission to uplift and empower listeners to believe in themselves with the mindset that nothing is impossible.

“You said it right yourself,” Riley said, “it’s all about inspiring the people to seize the moment. It’s my day! Everyone should use it and make the best out of it.”

In light of the escalating violence in the territory, Riley was asked if he had any message for the youth.

“Violence is unnecessary, a lack of communication cause violence,because when people can reason, we find out that we’re more assets to each other more than liabilities. So, if we could communicate better, there’s no reason to fight or argue, or war,” he concluded.