Feature - Dekay & the D’Mans
Published: 19 January, 2012
by ROISIN GADELRAB
It’s often said that the greatest moments of creativity arise out of hard times.
And the members of hip-hop group Dekay & the D’Mans are no strangers to adversity, having all been homeless at times in their lives.
Lead singer Dekay, guitarist Jonny O’Brien, drummer Alan Hartigan and volunteer Gerard Galvin Barrie got together through Camden Calling, a project which helps talented musicians who have experienced homelessness to become a genuine fixture on Camden’s music scene.
Their stories will be told in a BBC documentary to be screened later this year as part of the Storyville Why Poverty season.
The film follows the musicians, as they explain how they came to be homeless and later joined forces to form Dekay & the D’Mans.
Particularly poignant is the story of Alan, who describes his previous “lovely life”, living in a three-bedroom house with his wife and children until he was accused of a crime he was later exonerated from.
Those lost 11 months spent on remand were enough to lose him his stable life and he found himself homeless.
Now working for St Mungo’s hostel, he has recently moved into a flat and has found new hope with the band.
Camden Calling has developed a reputation for putting on credible nights featuring underground unsigned artists from the streets, born out of a demanding ethic when it comes to participants.
It now hosts Urban Beatfare on the first Sunday of every month at The Enterprise, Chalk Farm, and an unplugged acoustic night Beats Bears and Bargains on the third Sunday of every month at The Good Ship in Kilburn.
Dekay and the D’Mans headline The Enterprise on February 5 alongside Ruthless, De’Vide, Airklipz and 3REED. Every Urban Beatfare gig also features an open mic competition.
Camden Calling started with a £500 grant from Camden Arts, emerging out of a one-off fundraising night in 2008 and soon became a regular event.
Alexis Brookes, who was working for Camden Council’s hostel services at the time and is now the main driving force behind the project, said: “The idea of being able to pull this off and create a lasting, successful, creatively dynamic collective with artistic integrity became pretty consuming. To challenge perceptions of vulnerable people whilst challenging them to stand up be counted and take responsibility for their own lives. There are hundreds of creative projects for vulnerable people but very little that requires those involved to work to an exceptional standard. Members of Camden Calling are largely individuals that have not got on well with traditional services or groups.”
Members go through an audition and interview, and observe a three-month probation period to ensure they can hold their own alongside established live acts.
The project also runs radio programme Locked on Radio, runs a music video project and hosts regular gigs in east London.
Members contribute to the planning, promoting and production of all events.
Acts involved include singer songwriter Frankie Blake, hip hop artist Rukas and performance poet Richard Bastian, while other members are involved behind the scenes.
One of Camden Calling’s newer members Ben Is A Dark Horse, who plays what he calls “stoner soul”, has been homeless on and off for a number of years, at times squatting, at others living in housing co-ops and guardian properties. He is now in temporary accommodation and well on the road to managing by himself He said: “At a time when everything had fallen apart, or so it seemed, Camden Calling gave me confidence in myself and my abilities. It also gave me motivation to pick up my instrument which had been eroded by the endless money grabbing promoters in this town. They showed me an integrity that so many causes and groups lose in pursuit of money and that has inspired me."
Camden Calling is open to any creative person over 18 that has experienced homelessness and has ongoing personal issues. Profits are reinvested in the project.
• Further information and Camden Calling’s radio station at www.camdencalling.org