From the rugged green mountains of Dominica a passionate manifestation of Rastafari comes forward, it is the future of reggae. His name is Nasio Fontaine and his music has the power to flow into your consciousness and lift your energy. His voice has an unmistakable resonance and his lyrics speak to all Jah children.
Nasio was the youngest of seven children born to a Carib Indian mother and father of African descent, in the village of Carte-Bois. The family lived in a one-room wooden country house without running water or electricity. Before heading off to school, Nasio and his brothers and sisters walked miles to the Gwiyo River to fetch fresh water for the household.
When he was eight years old, Nasio began singing in the Bagatelle school and the village Catholic church. Nasio had a habit of making instruments out of everything he could find. His Dad, Atto, made his very first instrument, a piece of board with fishing lines for strings; it meant everything to him. According to the village residents, Nasio was often the highlight of the annual school talent shows, and a blessing to listen to.
Nasio's musical inspiration comes from Rastafari but on the earthly plane, it is reggae greats such as Joseph Hill, Burning Spear, Jacob Miller and of course Bob Marley. He is also influenced by Marvin Gaye, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, and Dominican Cadence music, like Chubby and the Midnight Groovers. He is very focused on what his music is saying, the message he wants to portray.
In the mid-1980s, Nasio moved from Dominica to the hustle and bustle of the island of St. Maarten where he recorded his first 12" single Born to Be Free (1986) and EP Babylon is Falling (1990). His first full length CD Reggae Power (1994) was followed by Wolf Catcher (1997) and Revolution (1999). He soon became a sensation by the power of the music and word of mouth alone. Living in the Positive was released by Ras Records in 2004. In 2005 Nasio recorded his latest album, Universal Cry, at Long View in Massachusetts and Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in the UK; collaborating with producer, Richard Evans. The album was mixed by Kevin Killen. Universal Cry was released on the Greensleeves record label in the summer of 2006 to critical acclaim.
Lovers of reggae music throughout the world know Nasio's name, his voice and his conscious lyrics. He speaks of revolution, of waking up the sleeping consciousness of oppressed and freedom loving people across the Earth. In his own words, "the music is important; I want my music to be my contribution to the people of the world."
Click here to listen to a 1999 interview Professor Skank had with Nasio
and click here to link to a FREE Nasio Sampler
