Desmond Williams
Encyclopedia
Desmond Williams is an American
electronica
musician
, as well as a record producer
and was the chief sound engineer for the Eighteenth Street Lounge Music record label
. Born in Jamaica
and raised in Montclair, New Jersey
, Williams has been known for his remixing and producing
style.
In 2000, Desmond was hired by Thievery Corporation
to work with their fledgling studio. Desmond performed many tasks for Thievery Corporation and the label, ESL Music. He was the head engineer, co-producer for many of Thievery Corporations tracks, played bass, guitar, and keyboards for most of the tracks on the Thievery albums, "Mirror Conspiracy" and "Outernationalist", and was responsible for basic production work on many of the Thievery remixes.
In 2000, Williams created his initial EP
, Theme from a Dream. In 2002, he released his debut album, Delights of the Garden
. After leaving ESL Music in 2003, Williams co-founded the Washington, D.C. based Rhythm & Culture Recordings record label with then partner, Farid Ali. He released an EP entitled East West Highway, and collaborated with Philip Brooks, formerly of Avatars of Dub, to form a group called Browntempo (a phrase he coined to describe their music). Browntempo had one release on Rhythm & Culture Recordings. In 2008 Desmond Williams collaborated with Midnite
and released an album titled Kayamagan.
In 1996, he had a son, by he name of Imani, who is currently making music, classified in genres such as Hip Hop, and R&B, under the name of "IiMZ".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, as well as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and was the chief sound engineer for the Eighteenth Street Lounge Music record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Born in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and raised in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, Williams has been known for his remixing and producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
style.
Biography
In 1993, Williams began working with the legendary reggae/dub engineer, Scientist. Together, they did a great deal of experimentation with new digital audio techniques, as well as mixing live events for such artists as Third World, Supercat, Freddie McGregor, etc. In 1995, they co-produced an album for the renowned Sugar Minott entitled "International" for RAS Records.In 2000, Desmond was hired by Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C. based recording artist and DJ duo consisting of Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and their supporting artists, including current drummer Jeff Franca...
to work with their fledgling studio. Desmond performed many tasks for Thievery Corporation and the label, ESL Music. He was the head engineer, co-producer for many of Thievery Corporations tracks, played bass, guitar, and keyboards for most of the tracks on the Thievery albums, "Mirror Conspiracy" and "Outernationalist", and was responsible for basic production work on many of the Thievery remixes.
In 2000, Williams created his initial EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Theme from a Dream. In 2002, he released his debut album, Delights of the Garden
Delights of the Garden
Delights of the Garden is the 2002 debut album by Desmond Williams. On his first full album, Williams delves further into his Jamaican roots, tinging the electronica sound of his music with the dub stylings of that nation...
. After leaving ESL Music in 2003, Williams co-founded the Washington, D.C. based Rhythm & Culture Recordings record label with then partner, Farid Ali. He released an EP entitled East West Highway, and collaborated with Philip Brooks, formerly of Avatars of Dub, to form a group called Browntempo (a phrase he coined to describe their music). Browntempo had one release on Rhythm & Culture Recordings. In 2008 Desmond Williams collaborated with Midnite
Midnite
Midnite is a roots reggae band hailing from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which has been playing since 1989.The band's music follows in tradition with the roots reggae bands of 1970s Jamaica. The lyrical portions of Midnite's compositions are characterized as the "chant and call" style which...
and released an album titled Kayamagan.
In 1996, he had a son, by he name of Imani, who is currently making music, classified in genres such as Hip Hop, and R&B, under the name of "IiMZ".
Discography
- 2000 Theme From a Dream (EP)
- 2002 Delights of the Garden
- 2003 East West Highway (EP)
- 2006 Smells Like Teen Spirit (with Morel)
- 2008 Kayamagan (with Midnite)