From left Sabrina 'Breeze' Foster, Rushelle 'Rain' McFarlane, Savanna 'Sunshine' Cole and Ariane 'Sky' Roxburgh. - Contributed

Still in their early teenage years and the members of Islandgirlz are making strides in film and music.

Early next year, the energetic quartet will be releasing their mini reality TV style drama based on their pursuit of life in Jamaica, music and friendship. Filming has already begun all across Jamaica and will continue over the Christmas break. It will be edited by March before its official release about a month later.

The group, which started as a duo in 2007, has expanded to four members. Sabrina 'Breeze' Foster, Ariane 'Sky' Roxburgh, Rushelle 'Rain' McFarlane and Savanna 'Sunshine' Cole say they are all proud of their film effort.

"Originally, it was our manager's idea. It was an optional thing but we decided that it would be good for us to do a TV show," said 11-year-old Cole, who has appeared as a child actress in Sanjay's Man Of My Words video and in Storm Saulter's film Betta Mus Come. She lives in the United States.

"I'm excited about it. People will actually get to see what we are like and how we do things. It should be really exciting."

good idea

Raymond Cole, manager of the group and father of Savanna 'Sunshine' Cole, said he thought it was a good idea to do a reality TV series with the girls. He said people hear their songs but don't always know they are children, as they sound very mature.

"This summer, understanding that they were going to release an album, we recognised that people would be interested in seeing how they started, the challenges they face in everything - from school, their personal life, their personal development and their careers," Raymond Cole told The Gleaner.

In addition, he said their presence on TV would also inspire other young Jamaicans like them.

"Most kids in Jamaica are watching foreign material. This show becomes symbolic to every Jamaican kid that has a dream. It shows that if they have a dream and they work hard at it, they can make things happen," he said.

Standing in front of a camera has also helped 13-year-old McFarlane, who attends Manchester High. Since being part of the series, she said she feels better about herself.

"It helps to build my confidence and helps me to understand that life is special. It motivates me to do much better in life," she said.

fresh-sounding album

The film aside, there is also much focus on their fresh-sounding album, which will also be released next year. It has songs such as Betcha Never, One Two Three, Better Dayz, Friendz and Right Now with Jah Mason. Savanna Cole also did a single with artiste/producer Don Mafia called Sunshine.

About 90 per cent of the album was written by Raymond. He also assisted Gary Atkinson with production, while Oniel Brown did engineering work.

As for the album, Sunshine said she hopes it gets a good response and that the group's audience will increase. She also hopes the group will get a lot of exposure from what she believes is a positive album.

"I think it is a nice album with clean lyrics and positive music. It shows that Jamaicans can produce fresh music," she said.

The eldest in the group, 15-year-old Foster, who attends Hampton School in St Elizabeth, said she is especially happy based on the amount of work that was put into it.

"I am proud of myself. It was a lot of hard work and it took a lot out of me, going to the studio and everything," she said.

McFarlane is also pleased with the content. "The music we produce is very groovy, very clean Jamaican music. Very good to listen, especially for the kids," she said.

The Islandgirlz brand of music is what she wants children to listen to instead of focusing on the 'Gully-Gaza' rivalry and other negative music. She also said the group's aim, through its music, is to discourage violence, smoking and teenage pregnancy.

Newcomer 14-year-old Campion College student Roxburgh said she hopes the album will be a hit.

"I hope they will like it 'cause it's different and positive," said Roxburgh, who joined the group in summer.

In their young careers, the girls are faced with the challenge of managing music and schoolwork.

"I manage quite well. You just have to manage your time. I have to make sure that I focus on school the most," Roxburgh said.

Being based in different parishes and a different country, in the case of Cole, can be difficult for the group. Yet, they make it work.

"That's tough at times but our parents are with us 100 per cent. We just have to meet in one place," said Foster.