Dehconte Nyepan was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia. He plays four musical instruments. Growing up he was always surrounded by music. From the likes of Fala Kuti, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Prince Nico, and Rick James, Dehconte discovered that the power of music lay not in its reach, but in its depth. “All my life I have had a strong need to express myself creatively,” says the artist who fled his country in 1986 to escape the social and economic hardships of the time. , Dehconte often wafted in loneliness, and welcomed the company of poetry and songwriting. His letters expressed his joys, frustrations, delights, and sorrows. These writings would one day take the shape of two beautifully composed collections of music.
When asked from where her motivation came, author Gwendolyn Brooks once remarked: “If you wanted a poem, you had only to look out a window. There was material always, walking or running, fighting or screaming or singing.” For Dehconte, it was music- ethnic drumming,Jazz and African Pop- that need'nt be searched for. from his window in (Bushrode Island) Monrovia,Liberia the young artist listened to and gathered a bundle of eclectic music that he carried with him ,like a satchel of insprition, at his hip.Today that imagined satchel has not moved: it still swings from side to side, and is dripped into daily as Dehconte searches for and creates earth-shaking organic music..
Chillton was born in Bong Mines, a place that was operated by Germans in Liberia. He is now living in Trondheim/ Norway, after living in Ivory Coast for some years. He resettled in Norway since 2004 after fleeing 14 years civil war that led to the destruction of thousands of lives in his home country. Doing the war, he was physically abused by arm men on several occasions. He was threatened and forced into exile by powerful military personnel from his country. He fled to the Ivory Coast where he worked as a studio producer and musician.
Chillton is now Africa's new celebrated reggae star denouncing political corruption, war, crime, violence and use of drugs. The rising celebrated star is known for his strong commitment in exposing what is unlawful and wrong doing. He wants to see this society laying a better and peaceful foundation for the coming generation.
Chillton has his own band that consists of 10 professional musicians. 8 Norwegians and 2 Africans. After a year of trying to create a unique version of African reggae, his music has been considered as one of the best produced African reggae of the 21 century.
His reggae is groovy because those days it was the groovy African drums that brought bravery and courage to defeat their enemies on the battle field. His music is filled with sorrow in the horns because, it was the horns that alerted the worriers when the slave traders were on the hunt for slaves. It's little bit funky and jazzy because of his western music. Click Here to WATCH his Video "BABYLON"
|