A music career seemed inevitable for Nicholas Browne, given his family’s strong ties to the industry.
Browne, 28, has quietly made a mark with his Lifeline Music label. He produced singer Romain Virgo’s Rich in Love and a cover of Sam Smith’s Stay With Me.
His recent credits include Fade Away by Virgo and Agent Sasco (which is featured on Virgo’s EP Lifted); as well as a track on Agent Sasco’s new album, The Theory of Reggaetivity.
“My involvement in music is something I couldn’t run from. It’s a family thing. I am an 80’s baby and I grew up around music every day,” Browne told the Sunday Observer.
Romain Virgo
Browne’s father is producer and Main Street Records head honcho Danny Browne, a founding member of the 1980’s band Blood Fire Posse.His father and uncles Glen, Dalton and Cleveland are members of the Browne Bunch group that formed in the 1970s. Glen, Dalton and Cleveland are session musicians. The latter was also part of hot production team Steely and Clevie.
Danny Browne
Browne’s cousin is Richard ‘Shams’ Browne, a prolific producer from the late 1990’s. His brother Juvane is also a producer who had a big hit in 1997 with the Filthy Rich rhythm.
After graduating from the University of Technology Jamaica, in 2008 with a degree in finance, Browne went into music.
“I did some work with Copper Cat, but my first release was a rhythm called Set It Off,which came out in 2010. I take time to work on my stuff to get everything together. I believe in quality over quantity, so I take time to do things and harness relationships with the artistes, so I can have their support when we put out the music,” Browne explained.
Set It Off was driven by songs such as Island Lover by Assassin, This is Not a Marijuana Song by Protoje, and Rich in Love.
Virgo has done a number of sessions with Lifeline Music. This is deliberate, Browne points out.
“I work a lot with Romain because he is very much in line with my vision for my productions and label. I am not trying to make music to run the place. Instead, I make music that will have longevity.”
Danny Browne developed a stable of acts at Main Street — Richie Stephens, Degree, Buccaneer — which flourished during the 1990’s.
It is a stability Nicholas Browne strives to emulate.
“My father taught me a lot. He said go against the grain and not to follow the crowd.”
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