Darien Prophecy

Prophecy has been defined as “A divinely inspired utterance” and this description is fitting for this amazingly talented singer who has come out of the Mandeville countryside in Jamaica to reside in Ipswich, Suffolk in the UK. Darien Prophecy (real name Clive Darien) is poised to breakthrough into the reggae mainstream with his debut album ‘Natural Vibes’ to be released on Sativa Records in May/June 2007. It is a pure roots reggae album that sounds like it could have been made at any time since the golden age of reggae in the 1970’s but at the same time it is modern and up to date.

Inspired and encouraged to sing as a child in the local church choir, he discovered a voice that could really speak to people on a spiritual level. While his mother would play her gospel music on a Sunday, his father would be listening to roots reggae all through the week and so it was this music that he fell in love with. As he got older his voice developed and when singing a Garnett Silk song to his friends they all commented on how much he actually sounded like the late great singer and so he began to pay much more attention to his songs and Garnett became his main inspiration as an artist.

While he never got to meet the man himself before his tragic death, about a year later Garnett Silk’s brothers moved into the house next door and they became friends, so fate had made their paths cross even after death. The brothers helped Clive develop his song writing abilities and because everything he wrote was on a conscious tip, they gave him the name ‘Prophecy’ (this was later changed to Darien Prophecy due to another artist in Jamaica also having the name Prophecy).

His understanding of the word is different to the dictionary definition as he says what it means to him is simply “roots and reality and living a natural life”. This was how he lived in the hills of Mandeville and is summed up in his first single ‘Natural Vibes’ which has been number 1 in the www.reggaefrance.com charts on the basis of an early promo version circulated last year. His music is simple but it carries a deep message of spirituality and positivity, reinforced by his rasta faith. His voice is instantly appealing and carries and conveys a range of emotions that just makes you want to hear more of it, whether he is singing about injustice or equality or the greatest thing of all – love.

He is a humble person and considers himself fortunate to be making music in his new home “when I first arrived in Ipswich with my grandmother I thought my music days were finished but luckily I met up with the musician and producer Gordon ‘Innerheart’ Mulrain at a community studio in the town and we felt some vibes and began to work together in 2005, with him producing tracks for me”

The link up proved to be a very positive experience for both men and after 18 months the resulting songs are an absolute pleasure to listen to, with the exclusive Innerheart riddims fitting Prophecy’s voice like a glove. Gordon deserves special credit for the fact that he played and arranged virtually all the instruments (bass, drums, guitar, percussion, keyboards) on all the songs and has crafted some of the finest, original reggae riddims to have been produced in the UK in the last few years which covers all the ground from lively modern roots (Natural Vibes) mellow Augustus Pablo melodica inspired dub (Lion of Judah) to rockers (Freedom Must Come) to steppers (Hail Him) to an almost hip hop flavour (Art Of Love).

You can really feel the good vibes coming out of the speakers and when Prophecy performs with the full seven piece Innerheart Band you get to see a bright new star in action “I love to sing with the band and am really looking forward to going out on the road and spreading the message of my music, it makes me joyful and glad when I see that people are appreciating my music”.

With plenty more songs already written, the second album is already begun but with music that sounds as timeless as this there is no rush and people can relax and take their time to enjoy the debut album.

The first single Natural Vibes also features a breaks remix courtesy of  NJC (Nat Clarkson) which should ensure the crossover appeal into mainstream dance floors of clubs up and down the land.

Written by Daniel Turner (© March 2007) Touch Magazine UK