Deon Thomas - Establishing his own 'Dimension' identity
It is very long overdue but I am pleased to present Article #6 for this Blog.
Some time ago I
sat and interviewed Tobagonian artiste Deon Thomas aka Dimension Muzic from
Lambeau. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Also see video footage
attached.
By Onica Dick
(NEKI)
At the start
of the interview he tells me, “When I was younger I wanted to be a fireman”.
Deon Thomas aka Dimenson Muzic is a Tobago dancehall and reggae artiste who
grew up in Lambeau, Tobago. His favourite childhood memory was “playing starship
shooting on the plum tree while pretending to be Star Trek characters even
though our parents were always quarrelling with us to come down from the tree.”
The last of
seven children, Thomas attended the Signal Hill Government Primary School and
then went on to Signal Hill Secondary School. He remembers his favourite teachers,
Ms. Edwards at primary School and Mr. “Maths” Dalrymple at secondary school.
His career objective
was to be a fireman. However, he says when he had just left school he “saw God in a dream anointing me with oil so much so that I believe God has
blessed me with a talent to do something.” His ultimate goal is “to put things
in a dimension where they really can’t say anything about it.” He even adds, “I
have chosen this name Dimension because that is where music comes from; lyrics
are out of this world.”
Dimension
has been writing and singing for a number of years and to date has recorded
over 50 songs. His first song ‘Mad Cap’ (War
Anthem) was recorded in 2002 on the Casablanca Riddim and produced at the Baby
Thorne Studios. In this song he sends a strong message, “War, it not a war
until bloodshed, War, it not a war until somebody dead.” In another one of his
songs titled, ‘Planned Out’, he states, “sometimes life doesn’t go how you want
it to be, some people just full ah talk and corrupted.”
When it
comes to creating his music, his first stage of creativity is to write out his
lyrics on paper. “Some artistes sing most of their songs off the top of their
head but I am one who prefers to do some writing first. That doesn’t mean I can’t
freestyle though. I have that ability as well.”
He has
chosen to remain as an independent artiste and manage himself. He also has his
own record company Flowing Fountain Records which has been established four years and counting. When asked about the impact he wants to create, he told me, “I want
to the build the movement for dancehall music in Tobago. I am trying to do
something that Soca Music never did for the youths in Tobago. I want Flowing
Fountain Records to be an avenue where artistes can come and get music done and
be able to perform in certain shows.”
He even
wants his impact to spread globally so that he is known and heard as a highly
rated entertainer in the industry. “Everybody have a story to tell; I have a
nice story to tell. I need to be heard and there may be times when it may be
considered by some as negative or positive.
Some of the
artistes out there who have been an inspiration to him include Jamaican artiste
Masicka and our very own Trinidad artiste Medz Boss. He has a strong desire to
one day collaborate with them because he likes their musical style and flow.
He further mentioned his wish of even collaborating with the ‘Gully Gad’
Mavado.
Some of his
live performances have been on secular and gospel stages. He remembers his best
live Gospel show which was hosted by Raymond Okille at Sea Lots. One of
the songs he remembers performing was ‘Spiritual Cellular’ in which he sings, “This
world can be rough and bring a lot of struggle but there’s a man you can call,
when you ring, he answer in a double.”
Dimension
whose music can be found on YouTube as DIMENSION Music has not always had an easy
musical journey. He has faced the challenge of airplay in terms of getting his
music on the radio but he has a deep understanding of the importance of sound engineering quality and
delivery. However, he is not one to give up easily. In a couple years’ time, he
hopes to be doing musical tours to certain islands. As he reiterates, “I believe
in my talent as an artiste.” His music is also available through Spotify, Apple
Music, Facebook, Instagram (Dimension_86) and even on TikTok (Dimension Muzic).
Dimension
is a very hardworking artiste who is always releasing music. Some of his latest
hits include ‘Promise, ‘Problem’, ‘Street Life and ‘On The Low’. He even has a
message for those who want to want to enter the field; he says “Do your own
thing, be unique and take advice from no one.”
As we wrap
up the interview, he says to me, “I am well aware that the music industry is
already owned and some people in it have already set an order. Sometimes, it is
hard to come out if you don’t follow that order. However, it is a growing
industry and once you have the endurance, you can grow and develop in the
industry and establish your own identity.”
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