From the green, rugged mountains of Dominica, a passionate Rastafari manifestation takes center stage in reggae. His name is Nasio Fontaine, and his music has the power to flow through your consciousness and lift your energy. His voice has an indescribable power, and his lyrics speak for all of Jah's children. Nasio was the youngest of seven children born to a Caribbean Indian mother and an African-descended father, in the village of Carte-Bois.
This family lived in a one-room wooden house with no running water or electricity. Nasio and his brothers and sisters would walk miles to the Gwiyo river to fetch fresh water for home. When he was eight, Nasio began singing at Bagatelle school and at the village Catholic church. Nasio had a habit of making instruments out of whatever he could find: "My daddy, Atto, made my first instrument, a plank with fishing line for strings; it meant everything to me." According to villagers, Nasio was often the highlight of annual school talent shows.
Nasio's musical inspiration comes from Rastafari, but on the earthly plane the great names are Joseph Hill of Culture, Burning Spear, Jacob Miller and, naturally, Bob Marley. He is also influenced by Marvin Gaye, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, and Dominican music such as Chubby and the Midnight Groovers. He cares deeply about the content of his lyrics and the message he wants to convey. In the mid-1980s, Nasio moved from Dominica to the island of St. Maarten, where he recorded his first 12" single called "Born to Be Free" (1986) and the EP "Babylon is Falling" (1990).
His first CD was "Reggae Power" (1994), followed by "Wolf Catcher" (1997) and "Revolution" (1999). He quickly became a sensation in music and in his messages. Reggae lovers worldwide know Nasio, his voice and his conscious lyrics. He speaks of revolution, awakening against oppression and people's freedom to love across the Earth. In his own words:
"Music is important; I want my music to be my contribution to the peoples of the world!"
The world of reggae and certainly the world of music needs a new voice, and that voice is Nasio Fontaine.