CAMAR Biography:
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"And I see my destiny..." is perhaps the theme of singer, songwriter and producer – CAMAR formerly known as Flava Unit's life. Born in the beautiful and tranquil island of Jamaica, Camar Andre Doyles, was destined to set a new trend in music. Like many educated and disciplined in the island, Camar's first appearance singing was at his local church. Throughout his school days, his passion for music evolved as he practiced his craft by impersonating artists like Boyz II Men, R. Kelly and Jodeci experimenting with his flavorful singing. It's his unique desire to pierce the international market with his own style of Yaard Soul encompassing his poignant vocals almost in an R&B influenced technique over rich Caribbean Dancehall beats.
Like many of the island's natives, CAMAR ventured beyond the islands water encased boundaries by going to collage at the Art Institute in Florida where he perused a degree in Computer Animation. Once he returned to Jamaica, he continued to excel in performing arts as he enrolled at Excelsior Community College to study music. Camar couldn't get enough as he expresses: "I love the arts. I like drama, music, drawing and sculpting. I basically do everything in the artist."
For most of his life music was just a hobby until a particular fateful exchange. "Music was just my escape, I wasn't really serious about it at first", smiles Camar. "I just did it for fun". However, it was while just having fun at Karaoke Night at the Hilton Kingston Hotel's that he developed a bond with a Jazz pianist that forever changed his life. The older man's Jazz melodies and chords created a utopia to which Camar could escape to feed his ever dying thirst for musical inspiration.
During his time performing Karaoke, CAMAR was selected by a team from a local marketing company who took him on a promotional tour for the annual Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in early 2002. By this time Camar had come to cross-roads in his life trying to decide along what path his future would lie. Once again, the playground of the Hilton shaped his direction as he heard Carl Wisdom from the Gospel group WORD playing piano and was immediately drawn to sing with him.
Unbeknown to him, a tourist staying at the hotel overheard the exchange and was moved. Wanting to lend some aid to the flowering talent he'd witnessed Gary Mothersil partially funded CAMAR's first recording experience which brought Camar to the studio's of Steven Ventura. Working with Steven Ventura, helped groom CAMAR's delivery and added a wealth of experience. Ventura was also developing a young artist named Nadz, a Jamaican female rapper.
CAMAR and Nadz had a strong chemistry and when showcasing their abilities live at the Caribbean Music Expo (CME) in 2001 they were both solicited by the Artist Network in Europe. A whirlwind of activities soon happened as CAMAR found himself in Europe working with the likes of Bono from U2, Annie Lennox, Taylor Dayne with whom he co-wrote and recorded a song while working with this artiste development camp, Dave Stewart,the founder of the Eurythmics, and Brian Jobson – who was instrumental in the development of the No Doubt/Bounty Killer "Hey Baby" collaboration.
Camar and Nadz had impressed Dave Stewart so much that they quickly formed a musical family together along with "Mud Bone" Cooper from George Clinton and P-Funk as the group DUP – 'Da Universal Playaz'. They even released a single "Freedom's Coming" along with a video. DUP toured with Dave Stewart and Jimmy Cliff throughout Europe. Wanting to take a more behind the scenes roll Dave Stewart brought in Tami Chynn to be a member of DUP in 2004. Camar continued to align with other projects landing a spot on Kingston 5/ Sony Music's release "The New Sound of Reggae" with his track Crazy Thing as well as writing three songs for Alesha Dixon (formerly of the group Mis-Teeq) and her solo album "Fired Up" Polydoor Records. The release "Crazy Thing" for Kingston 5/ Sony Music found Camar touring the UK to promote the release.
While working to build the official band for 'Da Universal Playaz' in 2005, Tami Chynn made the decision to part ways to peruse a solo career. At the same time, Nadz moved to Los Angeles to focus on her solo career and be managed by Dave Stewart. Remaining in Europe for a spell allowed Camar to tour opening for esteemed R&B groups Jagged Edge and 112 in UK.
Camar seriously began to explore the realms of Dancehall Music upon return to Jamaica first recording with popular selector producer Karim for the collaboration with Busy Signal titled "Upliftment" and Supa Hype's production of "Yuh Are The Wife" on his Smash riddim. It was his single "Whine & Twist" recorded for the dynamic production team Leftside & Esco that shot him to worldwide attention in the Caribbean community. Songs like "Girls Request" with Kid Kururpt from Renaissance's Ice Breaker riddim, "Pre Me" on Coopershot's No Tampering riddim and "You're the Wife" with Mr. Vegas on the Applause riddim by Snowcone have helped to secure his place in Dancehall. His own production of "It's You" coupled with the video shot in Jamaica was sought out by TEMPO; an MTV Music Video Channel for the Caribbean. Recently, CAMAR took to the studio with one of England's top pop/Dancehall group FYA to record a single their new album and it has another lethal surprise. In addition, CAMAR recorded for Alberozie from the Gee Jam production camp and is featured on the new video medley for the XL riddim.
According to CAMAR; "Music is just a medium through which you communicate to others. Even to those who don't speak your language but can interpret the message by the way you deliver it and through the expressions of what you are feeling inside." This is important as CAMAR is a multifaceted artist who not only performs but produces. Further, his songs have two distinctive appeals; there is the CAMAR side full of rich sultry delivery and then Flavr Unit which brings playful nature to undiluted Dancehall. Taking on an abridged format of his school day nickname "Flava Unit", CAMAR has incorporated this acronym into his package as he explains: "Flavr more represents the Dancehall-Reggae side of me and CAMAR is the soulful side". Together these two equally powerful halves come together to deliver CAMAR's own YAARD SOUL. -Bio courtesy of RudeGal Entertainment.
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