Bermudian singer Wayneche Watson performs as a group member and lead vocalist on the international gospel EP Guided by Faith, Byron Taylor & Favour.

Ms Watson is the featured artist on the song In His Hands on the EP, blessing listeners with her soprano range. Sharing how she became a part of this project, Ms Watson said: “Honestly, it was 100 per cent God. I have gone to so many places, and I am not the person to say I can sing or that this is my vocal ability or my vocal background.

“Still, God has crossed continents with people who’ve never met in person to allow my name to be in the room.”

She added: “I got into the group because one member from the group I was a part of in Jamaica knew a musician in England who connected me.”

Ms Watson has lived in various countries and has achieved higher education in places including the United States, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom. In each location from Bermuda and beyond, Ms Watson found herself singing in a gospel group. “I have been around music my whole life. Both of my parents sing, and other individuals in my family sing.

“Growing up Adventist, I would often spend Saturday afternoons at either Warrenaire’s practice or Inspirational choir practice. Then, I was in the choir at Bermuda Institute and in a group called Anointed.

“Then, looking up to people like Desirae Simons, Cammy Burrows, and Antonia Simons, I saw different people who sang beautifully. It was just something I knew I wanted to do, and God has some way of always placing me in a group,” said Ms Watson.

She added: “Music has always been intertwined in my life; it is something that chases me, and God reminds me this is something I want you to do, and I have given you a gift regardless of the anxiety you feel, the fear, or the lack of confidence, God always pushes me out of my comfort zone.”

This particular opportunity, on the song In His Hands, posed a challenge for Ms Watson, who had yet to encounter this with her prior recording experience.

“Recording is something I am familiar with because of my experience with my former group, Adiel Thomas & Ministry, but this time, it was different because I had been teaching myself sound engineering and recording at home,” she said.

“I purchased a mic and hooked up some equipment to my laptop to learn the basics. It was quite exciting because he trusted me to record the vocals in my own home, which was a first for me.

“So that was exciting and also nerve-wracking, because everything was on me.

“I had to be more intentional in how I went about recording the song because the first time I had recording experience, I always had someone there saying, ‘This is what I want it to sound like,’ or ‘This is what I envisioned for the song,’ or would coach me along as I did it.

“But this time, because I was completely by myself in my house singing to the top of my lungs, I had to do a lot of prayers, as well as many conversations with the Byron who wrote it, asking what he envisioned and wanted me to do. It was exciting and surprising; I am very proud to look back and think, ‘wow, I recorded that in my house’.”

Even though Ms Watson has been performing for many years, from youth into adulthood, on many stages, being centre stage is not something that comes easy for her.

Ms Waston said: “There have been countless times that God has shown up. For example, when I did Bermuda Idol, I had bronchitis and came second. I know that was only because of God; my lungs were not having it.

“There have been so many times I have been crippled with anxiety. I have had to pause, breathe, pray, empty myself, and allow myself to be used as a vessel to allow whoever needs to hear what I have to sing to be blessed and to let it feed their soul in whatever way it is meant to.

“He has come through and had his angels sing through me so many times, and I can feel He is with me. I have to give Him glory for that.

“Sometimes, my throat, through the nervousness, would feel as dry as a desert, but it doesn’t sound that way. Or I would feel myself shaking internally, but I wouldn’t come off that way.

“It is a beautiful thing but also annoying that everything I feel on the inside doesn’t portray itself externally because a lot of people have a hard time believing me when I say I have anxiety when it comes to singing or just being in front of people. Still, it is where God puts me and gives me the strength to do it.”

Discussing how she hopes people are impacted by the EP Guided by Faith, Byron Taylor & Favour, which was released on January 12 this year, in particular the song In His Hands, Ms Watson said: “I hope that in the moments where people feel like they don’t know what God’s doing or they’re afraid to take the step of faith that He might be asking them to take.

“Or, just at the moment when they feel lonely or forsaken or forgotten, they will be able to listen to that song and remember that they are in God’s hands and trust that He is working things out for their good and His good even when they aren't able to see it.”

• Listeners can access the EP Guided by Faith, Byron Taylor & Favour on all streaming platforms, including YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and Google Play. Listeners can also experience Ms Watson’s vocals in the group Last Call