Travelling the Chromatic Way
WHAT started out as a hobby has turned into an exciting career for Warren Lee.
Lee, 27, is more popularly known as Creep Chromatic. He is the conceptualiser and one of the founding members of the St Catherine-based sound system Chromatic.
“I lived in Portmore and I to take the music buses, especially ones that deejay Mad Cobra owned. Sitting at the back, I could feel the music pulsating through my body. I loved music and I realised that I loved it more than education at the time,” the former Wolmer’s Boys’ student told Jamaica Observer.
With the assistance of his next door neighbour, DJ Dean from the sound system Bad Influence, Lee said he learned the art of sound system selecting. He later met Nicolas ‘Niko’ Grant, who shared similar interests and the duo began making mixtapes.
In 2005, the duo began playing at parties and Chromatic was born.
“Our target audience is between 15 years to early 30s. A lot of our fans have grown with us and this is one of the reasons we have grown to where we are because we are in that age group, so we like the music that they do. We somewhat has the same mindset as it relates to song selections but bear in mind that we can please any audience,” Lee said.
Today, Chromatic is one of the most well-know on Jamaica’s party scene, as well as in United Kingdom, Miami, Belize and sections of the Caribbean. It is also known for its mixtapes including Newmatic, Best of Addi Volume 1-3 and Showtime.
Currently, Chromatic is promoting their latest mixtape called Chromatic Way. Mixed by of Shaun ‘Heavy D’ Duffus and ‘Shantonio’ Patterson, the set was released earlier this month. The compilation boasts 91 dancehall and hip hop tracks.
“Every artiste with a hot hip hop or dancehall song is on it. Chromatic is a brand, so we don’t just go to parties and play. We do a lot of mixtapes and so far the reception has been great as we anticipated,” said Duffus.
Duffus, who, along with Patterson, joined the outfit in 2013 are all in their 20s.
The sound system operators are gearing up for performances in Europe, Miami and Belize later this year.
Simone Morgan
