David Kirton
| Category: | Music |
| Sub-Category: | Musician |
| Description: | David Kirton Singer Songwriter Bio 2010 David Kirton (www.davidkirton.com), is part of a musical movement coming from the Southern Caribbean that?s outside the typical reggae box. Forging his own individuality with personal yet universal songs and fresh, organic sounds, the popular Barbadian singer/songwriter is expanding beyond his base and capturing the U.S. and UK with his soul influenced modern roots reggae rock. Though he toured the States and appeared on ?The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? back in 1999 as part of the Spirit of Unity Tour, Kirton is making his big splash as a solo artist in the States now, in the wake of his new award winning album and eye-opening performance at South By Southwest 2009. He was awarded the title of Reggae Artist of the Year in 2009 & 08, and has won a total of four Barbados Music Awards, including song and video for hit single 'Green Camouflage' A true reggae anthem embodying the best of the old rhythms and new expressions, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PyNroAyxYA. Kirton stated "In Barbados and many parts of the world it is illegal to wear camouflage clothing. In some countries it represents war, terrorism and is used to create fear. I wrote my Green Camouflage song as a statement and question, I decided to flip the script and call for a peace march where we all wore Green Camouflage, the colors of the earth." The provocative, socially conscious remix of Kirton?s first video, the title track from his latest album Time For Change featuring clips of Obama from the campaign trail, has earned Kirton attention on myspace and YouTube. This can be viewed at (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=31577093) Perhaps in addition to being a compelling artist, the singer is in touch with the worlds echo's and emotions, as the song, album and original video for the track?filmed in Barbados by two time Pulitzer Prize and Sundance Award winning cinematographer/director Tom Krueger?were all done before the rise of Obamamania. Kirton's unique sound and charismatic showmanship led him to a myriad of eclectic venues including The Royal Chelsea Flower Show in London?where he met famed Beatles producer George Martin--Fashion Has No Borders (Toronto), the Virgin Atlantic Barbados Music Festival and The World Travel Market, EXCEL London, Bob Marley Day and The Napa Reggae in the Valley Festival. His ?Free to Fly? music video featuring actor Gary Dourdan and noted painter William Attaway reached # 7 on the MTV Much Music Top 10. While the title Time For Change perfectly fits this era of cautious hope and optimism, it?s infectious tracks like ?Miss the Water? ?Sugar? (a reggae-funk track that pays homage to Barbados? onetime largest industry) and the Latin-spiced ?Aye Aye? that get people grooving, dancing and singing. Kirton hooked up with Van Gibbs and ventured to Salaam Remi?s Studios (Amy Winehouse, NAS, Fugees) with producer Chris Allman (Rupee, Alison Hinds) to record ?Time To Change? and ?Free To Fly.? The majority of the album was recorded at Slam City Studios in Barbados and was produced by Allman and De Red Boyz (Livvy Frank); the songs start acoustically with Kirton finding his melodies and lyrics, the seat of the songs then taken to the studio to be embelished and recorded. The Sunday Mercury?s (U.K.) Paul Cole wrote: ?Already a triple award-winner in the Caribbean, Time for Change has the crossover appeal to break him big in the mainstream pop charts.? The Canadian National Campus Review backed that up with: ?Kirton has busted out of the box with this, his third album, by blending elements of reggae, soul, rock and pop into a contemporary yet natural sound, which he then delivers with his exotically smooth, soul dipped voice.? The international accolades for Kirton began shortly after launched his recording career in the late 90s with a debut album, Stranger. The success of that release?which he followed in the early 2000s with Modern Roots and Island Songs For Children--led to an opportunity to perform at the 1999 MIDEM Cannes showcase at the Palais on World Beat Night, where UP writer John Swenson said, ?(he)?the best new artist at MIDEM.? Sensing the exciting, unique music in Kirton?s future, Miami's Caribbean Today wrote, ?Kirton has struck the right chord. He brings to the marketplace a refreshingly unique aura?satisfying the mainstream audience, especially those who crave something new.? That Midem showcase lead to the Spirit Of UnityTour booking where Kirton found him self opening for with reggae giants Maxi Priest, Thirld World, Culture and Steel Pulse. The Midem debut performance also gained him much critical aclaim and a RAS Records Signing. ?After touring 42 U.S. cities on the Spirit of Unity Tour with my Jamaican brethren ? the singer says, ?I returned to Barbados and realized that I couldn?t make music anymore that was straight reggae. I had to represent my true self, which ultimately led to the original concept behind ?Time To Change.? Growing up, I listened to all kinds of music because Barbados didn?t have an international indigenous sound. I never had the spirit to perform Trinidad?s soca music, which is also huge in Barbados. I originally gravitated to the reggae feel, which gave rise to my development as a guitarist and songwriter. But so many up and coming straight reggae artists just wrote lyrics over beats producers created for them, and as I moved forward in my career, I began coming up with all my own melodies, lyrics and arrangements?which ultimately took on a more modern hybrid style that also incorporated pop and soul music." He says ?It was roots reggae that captured my senses rather than the dancehall that became popular these past few years. My progression as an artist came because I was more relaxed, didn?t try to fit into a trendy box and just let my songs flow and represent what I felt inside when I sat down to write them. I feel very comfortable making music my own way, rather than trying to fit in anyone?s boots or letting a producer shape who I am as an artist. I love having the freedom to touch people and find success following my own vision.? Although Kirton is rising to a new level of international success creating a vibe that defies the trends of Trinidadian soca and Jamaican dancehall music, he is still based in Barbados and is proud to reflect the culture and heritage of his homeland and share it with the world. "My parents particularly love the statements made in my song ?Sugar,? he says, ? that?s the industry our country was born from, part of our shared history with Africa." His thoughts on why he writes the way he dose are simple, organic and honest "At heart, my music has a laid back feel because that?s what island life is about. When you are as overwhelmed by nature and can see all the stars in the sky, it?s easy to realize our place in the world, and, have a relaxed attitude about it. I?ve got the dreadlocks and that invites people to stereotype me as another reggae artist. But, I invite people to go deeper into my musical experience and re-evaluate their preconceived notions. I love the way music can make people dance in different ways and feel different emotions. Like Rihanna, I am all about blending the pride of my homeland with a progressive sound that is all my own.? |
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| My Location: | Barbados |
| Email: | barbadosmusic@gmail.com |
| Telephone: | 310-579-1269 |
| Website: | http://www.davidkirton.com |
6 Jan 2012