POPULAR Bermudian reggae singer 'Tiny T' has signed a deal with Platinum Pyramid Records, a Los Angeles-based recording company.

The artist was spotted by company executives on the island for the Bermuda Music Festival last year. She is now travelling between California and Bermuda, working on an album to be released this summer under her given name, Demeka.

"I was just out one night dancing at Spring Garden," she explained. "I was dancing the best I could, because I really love dancing and my friend started talking to these guys. (They'd obviously watched me dancing) and they asked her if I could sing." Demeka had already been presented with a Bermy for her vocal talent, named as Best Female DJ.

She was also no stranger to performing, having opened for countless acts including American hip hop star L'il Kim, Jamaican stars Lady Patra, Buju Banton, Capelton, Luciano, and Grammy-award winner Shabba Ranks. On that particular evening however, she wasn't in the mood.

"Usually I sing for everybody I come into contact with," she explained. "But that night I said no. I didn't feel like it. I was ready to go home." When Demeka and her friends left the Spring Garden Restaurant & Bar in Hamilton, the men followed.

"They kept asking me to sing for them and really, I don't know why I didn't," she recalled. "I was just tired of singing to people. I had no idea that they were producers or anything like that. And then one of them started singing to me, just singing off the top of his head. I thought it sounded beautiful and that encouraged me to sing back to them."

The others in the group joined in and soon, Demeka said "there were about four or five of them singing along with me on Reid Street at about 3 o'clock in the morning. One of them started doing the bass. The other started doing my backup vocals.

"It sounded like a live band almost. They were doing all the beats with their mouths. I was shocked and realised they had to know music. They'd never heard my song before but they knew how to harmonise and everything."

She later learned that the group had come to the island with Seal's band, which was performing in the Bermuda Music Festival.

"We exchanged numbers. I didn't really think they were going to call me or anything like that. I even called them once, but all they said was, 'We'll call you back but we're not ready now'. A month later they called back and flew me out to L.A., paid for my hotel and everything."

For their part, the record executives were impressed with the rawness of Demeka's voice.

"The most important thing to Demeka is that her music is not about hype, but about real honesty," said Lisa Reynolds, a spokesperson for Platinum Pyramid Records.

"Her first album promises to not only show you her view of the world as she sees it around her, but it comes straight from the heart and draws you into a world of rhythm and excitement."

Michael Walker, a music industry veteran who joined Platinum Pyramid Records as vice-president of operations last fall, shared that faith in Demeka's talent.

"It almost sounds redundant, but we're looking for artists who are truly artists in every way, ones who want to be involved in the business aspects of their careers as well as the creative development," he said.

"We want to take the time to allow their talent to grow and run alongside them with encouragement every step of the way. Our job is to give them all the tools they need to achieve their dreams."

Now in her 20s, Demeka said she had been singing as long as she can remember, although it took a while for her to find her voice.

"When I was a little girl I used to always pray to God asking him to let me be able to sing," she said. "All anybody ever told me was that I couldn't sing. I got kicked out of the choir because they said my voice was too rough.

"But it's great for reggae and I've learned how to use it in my own way. So I've been singing forever ? since I was 15 years old. I've done so many shows in Bermuda, at least one every year opening for different reggae entertainers that come to Bermuda.

"But after the show, that would be it. There was nothing for me to really work on. I'd taken it as far as I could in Bermuda without any real promotion."

Unable to afford to produce her own album, Demeka said she recognised immediately that Platinum Pyramid Records was her one chance.

"When they offered to fly me to L.A., I went even though I didn't know anybody," she said. "I didn't know what to expect. My mama was worried. She was like, 'Demeka, you're gonna die. They're going to send you back to Bermuda in a body bag!'

"But I had to take the chance. I had nothing else. What else was I going to do with my music? I have about 50 songs and I want to record them so I can have something to pass down to my children."

Fortunately, the experience has been a good one.

"I never thought I would be discovered by somebody in L.A. I didn't know Americans were so hip to reggae, but they loved my dance hall style. So far I've recorded three songs. I've got to go back out there in about ten days to do a show and some more recording.

"But I love it. I love the music and I love how they take interest in me when I'm there. They have other artists too but they give me a lot of attention. They really take interest in my music."

Demeka's CD, , will be released late this summer.