By Suelika N. Creque
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HE is anything but the ordinary. He respects music like it is his adopted parent, and is infected with it as if it is an irresistible drug.
He is Andrew Dean Williams, a.k.a. Drew Dean, and he expresses his music as if it is trapped in his soul with an urgent need to escape.
Born in Nevis and bred in almost every Caribbean island, Williams has been married to the microphone since the age of four.
From the church choir to the high school auditorium thence to the cultural complex, Williams has honed the remarkable skill of making each note soar and forcing those listening to shiver in delight and with satisfaction.
In 2003, he captured the Palm Award for Best Male Contemporary Artiste for his jaw dropping and soul stirring performances throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.
These experiences have led to him to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he is now pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Music Business/Management.
For 2009, Williams raises the stakes and takes it to another level with an exotic fusion of Reggae, R&B and Soul. His aim is to make sure that people do not just hear his music but also to feel it and to live it. 
With production by innovative local producer Ras Addie and Laurent ‘Slick’ Cohen, who has worked alongside reggae sensation Jah Cure, Lil Wayne and Plies, Williams is going full throttle and putting out full-blooded innovations.
He now has three brand new singles in the smooth R&B tracks - ‘Let It Go’ featuring Project Mpire, ‘Right By You’, and the infectious reggae-flavoured ‘MUZIC (Can You Feel It)’, which are all available for free download and also on select radio stations.
Williams lists Bob Marley, Buju Banton, John Mayer, The Fugees, Marvin Gaye, John Legend and a host of other artistes as his greatest influences. These artistes have left their mark on the international music scene and Williams is aspiring to do the same.
“My inspiration for music and singing comes simply from the way it makes me feel,” he told SKNVibes. “Through music and singing, I am able to be myself completely, to express my emotions without inhibition, to entertain and be entertained.
“I'm also inspired by the notion (and fully believe) that music is a language which has the power to influence and change lives. The works of international acts such as Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Michael Jackson etc. are proof of that,” he said.
His raw talent, his uninhibited ambition and his love of music have caught the attention of labels and music movers and shakers, and he is presently in pursuit of a recording contract which he hopes is just the beginning for a successful career in the music industry.
Williams voiced that getting the people who could help with his career has been one of the challenges he has faced.
“To just simply make it happen for you and to listen to you and to take you seriously, because A&R Reps, Management Cos & Labels get so much material each day that it's hard to determine which up and coming artiste has the most potential.
“Coming from a small Caribbean island it's hard to get the kind of exposure, support and opportunities you need to make it as a major artiste, especially when your genre is a non-west Indian form (R&B, Soul, Hip-hop),” he said.
Williams revealed that being a preacher's son and not being a gospel artiste has also been difficult.
“Everyone thinks that because my dad is a pastor I'm supposed to sing strictly Gospel music…and I've gotten lots of pressure for that.”
In addition to his new music, he has also launched three websites where his growing fan base can connect and interact. For more on Williams check out:
WWW.DREWDEAN.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DREWDEANMUSIC
WWW.IMEEM.COM/DREWDEAN
Williams, is an independent artiste who considers himself a bona fide son of the Caribbean.
He is ready to give fresh life to the pulsating rhythms and harmonious melodies that he believes is the hallmark of Caribbean life and culture.
