"Hackney, nineteen eighty one...... that.."s where my story begun...
An opening line fitting to thousands of 24 year old East Londoners, but only one has sung it on stages and shouted it across the rooftops loud enough for the masses to respond.......
This is the tale of D.ablo.
Raised in London , but gaining his early music knowledge through his Trinidad & Tobago family heritage, riffs, rhythms, and movement were never far from him in his early years. Unsurprisingly he mastered the art of steel drums very early on (and to this day is considered one of the UK .."s most skilled players), but once that door was open the craft of the piano, guitar, bass and drums soon followed.
.."Trying to remember when I first picked up an instrument is pointless, its trying to remember a time in my life when I wasn.."t picking them up, and thats the hard question. Being given my first guitar by a family friend at 13 really changed everything though...."
As the years passed, so did the schools but none moved as quickly as his ever mutating musical mind which by the age of 17 had decided exactly what it was D.ablo was aiming for...... The summit.
It was around this time that he first started to believe in himself as a solo performing artist as he slowly but surely began to pen his own catalogue of songs. This creative era was heightened by friendships with other young and determined music folk such as Jamie McKenzie aka Mac 1 (top UK hip hop producer), Chris Daley aka Skriblah (rapper in Uk hip hop.."s best known crew - Terra Firma), Jamie Coward aka Contact Play (soul & hip hop producer), the SouwfSide family (group of music writers, producers, artists & film makers), and not to forget Frisky G (a legend in his own right). It was through Skriblah though that his first contact with the Terra Firma concept first came about
...."I can still remember as clear as day Chris (aka Skriblah) bringing round a tape with an Itch FM battle session on it, which Klash and Kyza completely tore up. Thats when Chris started chattin.." about the UK .."s first hip hop super crew. Hearing those guys rap for the first time blew me away and kinda made me feel like I never really knew about UK hip hop until I first heard that tape. And trust I.."ve still got it!.."
By 2003 a twenty year old D.ablo was equipped with a batch of his own songs and ready to get them out across London at least. Just as the interest in his own stock started rising, so too was that of long term friends and affiliates Terra Firma (made up of rappers Klashnekoff, Kyza & Skriblah) and Jehst. D.ablo decided to put his own sound on hold and take up the request to tour up and down the UK with both artists allowing him to showcase his own sounds whilst contributing vocals to the otherwise hip hop set. The tour culminated in the release of the Jehst single .."Monotony..", on which D.ablo contributed the chorus vocal. He also stared in the video which gained heavy rotation on Channel U.
2004 and 2005 soon turned into a stuck together 24 months in which D.ablo became the most highly rated and most highly requested underground male UK soul vocalist. Since the release of the Jehst single, he.."s gone on to appear on Tommy Evans, Kyza, Micall Parkinsun, Souwf Beats, Skriblah, Mr.Wizz, and Chris Offilli projects as well as the forthcoming Terra Firma and Klashnekoff releases.
On top of the studio work he returned to the live arena to play keys in Lady Sovereign.."s band and thus played prestigious venues up and down the country which included Wireless Festival @ Hyde Park, Urban Music Festival @ Earls Court, MTV Brand Spankin...." New Music, and Top of the Pops.
...."Working with experienced artists is always a great help for a young new artist like myself, and playing at the sort of shows I.."ve done over the last couple of years has allowed me to embrace the differences between success and failure at a much higher level, and thats the kinda knowledge you just can.."t buy!...."
Enter 2006. Enter the new D.ablo.
After years of putting in a lot of work for mostly other people.."s causes, the idiosyncratic songwriter feels the time is now for him to launch his unique sound of Alternative UK Soul upon the nation. With the large majority of the tracks for his forthcoming debut album set to be completed by summer 2006, production and guest vocal work has already included Beat Butcher, Mac 1, Contact Play, Skriblah, Just Jack, Souwf, & Klashnekoff. The album which provided the right recording contract, distribution & publishing deal are in place could be available in the shops nationwide by the end of the year.
But don.."t fret, as D.ablo not only intends to provide all guests at any of his live shows with a two track .."taster.." CD, but is aiming to bring out a limited edition EP in the late summer.
...."I.."m sure people dont really know what to expect from the album, but all I can tell them right now is that its gonna represent me, a young London male from a mixed heritage thats trying to breakdown a few lifestyle barriers with his music. Just because of my attitude to life, I know my album will be universal. There will be no pigeon holing!.."
Be sure to keep in regular contact with the D.ablo.."s official website and My Space site for info on support slots, live PA.."s and low key headline gigs over the coming year.
The story has begun...... Now let.."s read on together.
For all management, press, & booking queries please contact Ali Fletcher at [email protected]