When Avlon Coleman migrated to the United States in the mid-1990s, he already had an eclectic taste in music — appreciating everything from gospel to dancehall and hip hop. As gospel artist Vessel, he incorporates those elements into his songs.
‘Truly Bless’ and ‘Doing it Big’ are his latest songs, both produced by Craig McDonald, with whom he has worked for most of his career.
The songs are driven by frenetic, EDM-type beats presented to Vessel by McDonald. Based in South Florida, the singjay is typical of contemporary gospel acts who yearn to find an audience beyond their traditional base.
“All of my songs are different, I don’t put myself in a box in terms of dancehall, hip hop, reggae, and so forth. I have been exposed to a whole lot of music, so it’s dependent on the beats I get from the producer,” he said.
Vessel started his music career in 2002 as a member of DMC, a harmony trio. Eventually, he became a solo act who has recorded two albums ‘Christwalker’ and ‘His Steps’ to date.
Like most modern gospel acts, Vessel is attracted to secular music. He counts rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., and dancehall heavyweights Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, as influences. For Vessel, spreading God’s message is paramount.
“I don’t limit myself to a particular demographic. I do me and make God do the rest,” he said.
