E-Swann
E-Swann a.k.a. “Da BlakBird” was born Eustace H.C. Swann in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to Hephzibah Smith and Herbert Swann. He grew up in Over Back with his mother and four sisters in a two bedroom house, spending a number of summers in North Caicos with his grandmother, auntie and sister. For one year E-Swann attended H.J. Robinson High School in Grand Turk, but eventually relocated to Freeport, Grand Bahama, to live with his father, three sisters and brother.
During his years in the Bahamas he developed a passion and appreciation for music. He discovered that it was an avenue to deal with some of the struggles he was facing. With the influence of some of his favorite artists such as 2Pac and Kriss Kross, he eventually started writing his own lyrics. This newfound gift offered him an alternative from allowing his thoughts from straying into dark and dangerous places. As a result his lyrics are centered on people, things and situations that have impacted his life.
Upon graduating E-Swann returned to TCI due to a most unfortunate turn of events. His 16 year old cousin Jay A Forbes had lost his three year battle with leukemia. As fate would have it, a few months later he lost his aunt, who he’d spent summers with in North Caicos, to cancer. The loss of two relatives who were so close to him, in such a short period of time, caused him to detach himself from the people he cared about. This juncture in his life enabled him to become engulfed in his music and as a result he recorded his first song “A Brighter Day”. The success of this release gained him wide acclaim in the islands as one of the up and coming rap artists. “Brighter Day” was later re-recorded by the Turks and Caicos Mass Choir on the album titled “Behold! Live In Chicago”. This song went on to peak at # 27 on the Billboard TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS on November 6th 2004. It was at this point that E-Swann knew that there was nothing else he really wanted to do other than music.
The evolution of E-Swann continued a few months later when he met fellow Blakout Crew (BOC) member Jabba while trying to find someone to sing a hook for his next single “Real World” (which was taken off the air because the station felt the lyrics were too graphic). A short time later he met Orane, and then re-connected with an acquaintance from his past by the name of “Kutless”. Together, they all started recording in the basement of Wayne Douglas (their Manager). BOC was solidified when Trigga Api came on board a few months later. The chemistry between these young artists was instant; E-Swann and his crew went on to dominate the music scene in the TCI; AND NOW THE WORLD!
During his years in the Bahamas he developed a passion and appreciation for music. He discovered that it was an avenue to deal with some of the struggles he was facing. With the influence of some of his favorite artists such as 2Pac and Kriss Kross, he eventually started writing his own lyrics. This newfound gift offered him an alternative from allowing his thoughts from straying into dark and dangerous places. As a result his lyrics are centered on people, things and situations that have impacted his life.
Upon graduating E-Swann returned to TCI due to a most unfortunate turn of events. His 16 year old cousin Jay A Forbes had lost his three year battle with leukemia. As fate would have it, a few months later he lost his aunt, who he’d spent summers with in North Caicos, to cancer. The loss of two relatives who were so close to him, in such a short period of time, caused him to detach himself from the people he cared about. This juncture in his life enabled him to become engulfed in his music and as a result he recorded his first song “A Brighter Day”. The success of this release gained him wide acclaim in the islands as one of the up and coming rap artists. “Brighter Day” was later re-recorded by the Turks and Caicos Mass Choir on the album titled “Behold! Live In Chicago”. This song went on to peak at # 27 on the Billboard TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS on November 6th 2004. It was at this point that E-Swann knew that there was nothing else he really wanted to do other than music.
The evolution of E-Swann continued a few months later when he met fellow Blakout Crew (BOC) member Jabba while trying to find someone to sing a hook for his next single “Real World” (which was taken off the air because the station felt the lyrics were too graphic). A short time later he met Orane, and then re-connected with an acquaintance from his past by the name of “Kutless”. Together, they all started recording in the basement of Wayne Douglas (their Manager). BOC was solidified when Trigga Api came on board a few months later. The chemistry between these young artists was instant; E-Swann and his crew went on to dominate the music scene in the TCI; AND NOW THE WORLD!
