After almost two years of inactivity, US-based Guyanese singer/songwriter Dennis France recently released new music.
The vibrant pandemic-inspired Soca piece, titled ‘We’ll Get Thru This,’ is a timely reminder that come what may, people can always adapt to the varying situations in life and win their battles one at a time.
France, who goes by stage name ‘Dan D,’ last released a song, ‘Let’s Celebrate (Guyana),’ in February 2020, in time for Mashramani. However, the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have denied the song popularity and drowned the singer’s enthusiasm.
France further shared that he felt unmotivated for the remainder of 2020 and all of 2021, having lost relatives and friends to the virus.
On January 27 of this year, he became inspired to write his latest piece. “….On January 27, this year, I was watching the news on TV, regarding progress with the worldwide pandemic and at the end, the presenter concluded that ‘we’ll get through this.’ The phrase stuck in my [head] and immediately I grabbed paper and pen and started to write the lyrics,” the songwriter recalled.
“The concept of the song applies to the worldwide pandemic and can, to some degree, apply to the [ongoing] war in Europe, as the refrain of the song expresses the hope in both events, that ‘Families, friends, loved ones will be able to meet, hug and kiss again,’” the singer explained.
Having finally gotten lyrics for a new song, France was uncertain what to do with it. Some weeks later he received a phone call from arranger and recording engineer Phillip Nichols, who had returned from Guyana and was checking up on him. Nichols enquired whether he was doing anything new as it relates to music. France related that he wasn’t sure but Phillip nevertheless encouraged him to visit the studio with whatever lyrics he had and a decision would be made.
The song was subsequently recorded and produced at Philgloton Records (owned by Nichols) and released on Facebook and YouTube on April 6.
By the following day, he was sharing CDs of his song with his Barbadian DJ friend, Neville Bushell, who hosts ‘The Caribbean Pepperpot’ online radio programme in Brooklyn. The song aired on the show, resulting in many of The Caribbean Pepperpot listeners, both Bajans and Guyanese, becoming acquainted with the song.
A few weeks ago, France linked with Brooklyn-based Guyanese Michael DeAbreau Luthers who has an online music station called ‘Talk a D’ Town’ where the song was also aired. The singer has since returned to the music station, where his first CD was provided airplay time also.
Since returning to the music scene, things have been looking up for the singer. He is now working towards having the single played on the local stations here.
France also acknowledged his videographer, Oswald Bobb, whom he has dubbed as his ‘one-stop-shop guy’ and he said he hopes to collaborate again with him in the near future to produce a video for the song.
To date the singer has released 19 songs, including a 16-track CD titled ‘Never Too Late.’
