KWEBEE... TALENT POOL
KWEBEE is Medhy CUSTOS, Jimmy DESVARIEUX, Patrice HULMAN, Willy ROUSSEAU, Jean-Marie THEOPHILE (drummer)
Medhy Custos replaced Pascal OBYDOL, a former member who at the time was going to study in France.
KWEBEE…FROM ORCHESTRATED MUSIC TO ACAPELLA
The adventure began in 1990 at the MJC des Abymes in Guadeloupe where the teenagers of that time met around their passion.
Before developing the concept of a capella singing which will make its signature and its success, KWEBEE was composed of 4 singers and 5 musicians.
Unfortunately at this time, the group multiplies the backing tracks, the proposals for live performances being rare. For lack of emulation, little by little, the musicians began to desert. Eventually only the drummer and the four singers will remain.
The drummer also knowing how to sing well, the group decides to opt for a formula with 5 voices and then takes up a capella standards of the West Indian and international variety, while accompanying some local artists.
KWEBEE… IN THE BIG LEAGUE
Success is there. KWEBEE opens up for renowned artists and groups including: Kassav, Malavoi, Trio Esperanza, Jacques Higelin, or even Jean-Jacques Goldman who gave them the opportunity to sing for five evenings, accompanied of its musicians at the Arts Center in Pointe-à-Pitre…
KWEBEE also made an appearance at the cinema in the movie "Antilles-sur-Seine" by Pascal Légitimus.
KWEBEE… RARE BUT ESSENTIAL DISCOGRAPHY
Discographically, KWEBEE has only released 3 maxi singles:
- « Magic Dream »_1996
- « Annie »_1997
- « Bébébyebye »_1998.
Paradoxically, the group did not have the time and the opportunity to record the a capella adaptations of the Creole repertoire that made their reputation.
KWEBEE…WEAKENING AND SOLO CAREER
The KWEBEE project naturally dissolved on its own over the years, with everyone taking its direction and busying themselves with their own careers.
According to Medhy CUSTOS, the end of KWEBEE is due to "its inability to choose an artistic direction and stick to it. The group has indeed always oscillated between making orchestrated music or a capella.
Medhy CUSTOS is also the first to start a solo career.
In 2001, he produced the concept album ALLIANSSTARS vol.1 with many artists and enjoyed enormous success, particularly with "A jamais", his duet with Gladys Cabarus and "Pé pa oubliew" for which he was awarded best male performer at the SACEM prize in 2003.
Patrice HULMAN is moving towards musical comedy, notably with "Fatalita l'opéra zouk" (1994) and "La rue Zabym" (2003-2006), both created and produced by ex-singer Paskal Vallot. He enjoyed great success with the release of his first solo album "On nonm" in 2011.
Jimmy DESVARIEUX, also features in the musical "La rue Zabym" and blows up with the hit "Pas mwen lov" in 2007.
KWEBEE…SOLIDARITY BETWEEN FORMER MUSIC FELLOWS
Despite his dazzling solo career, Medhy CUSTOS has never forgotten his former KWEBEE companions.
He also invited them in 2004, on his first solo album entitled "Serial Lover", on the title of the same name, nicknamed "Kwebee's song" and where we hear them doing vocalizations on a zouk RnB tempo.
In 2007 Medhy CUSTOS composes with Jimmy DESVARIEUX the title "C'est writing" which the latter sings with Christiane Valéjo and produces the first solo album of his ex-colleague on his label SINKEKAT.
In 2013, on the compilation "Dis-moi zouk by Medhy Custos", Willy ROUSSEAU sings on the title – “Sé kon sa”feat. Blakssman .
KWEBEE… TODAY KEY ARTISTS OF THE FRENCH WEST INDIAN MUSICAL HERITAGE
Today, Medhy CUSTOS, Patrice HULMAN and Jimmy DESVARIEUX are all accomplished artists who are part of the musical heritage of the French Antilles-Guyana.
Willy ROUSSEAU who had somewhat disappeared from the music scene even returned in 2020 with a new title, "An vlé ni“.
KWEBEE is no more, but the seeds have been sown and the harvest has been successful.
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