Living Barbados Magazine November 2014 Edition April 2014 edition | Page 89

PERSON OF INTEREST

By Tracy Highland Photos by Khalil Goodman

W

hen you see singer Debbie Reifer walk out on stage with her shy demeanour, half a smile
playing on her face, you are almost prepared to be underwhelmed. But then she starts to
sing and something magical happens. Debbie’s style is unique. Her vocals are pure, simple and
sweet. They draw you in and wrap you up in the essence of the song. Afterwards, when you realise
she’s also written the lyrics to much of what you’ve just heard, you’re even more in awe.
Her laid back, soulful sound has been compared to Norah Jones and her music is a hybrid
of many different genres. She has an amazing talent and has caught the ear of many, including
celebrity couple Erin Fetherston and Gabriel Sporta who hired her to perform at their Barbados
wedding which was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings last year. “I was so nervous!” she said
of the milestone performance. “But everything went well. The lead actor from Dawson’s Creek
(James Van Der Beek) came up to the stage with his little girl and started dancing with her while
we were playing,” she added while fondly remembering the event.
Debbie started her career in music just over two short years ago, but her life tells of a love affair
with music that started long before that. She was born the first of two children to a Barbadian
father and a Jamaican mother, both physicians who were living in the U.S. at th