Dezarie ADD

Review

Album Review: Dezarie - Guardian

04/05/2025

by Gardy Stein

„He is my guardian, my light and my salvation…” (Dezarie)

Dezarie is a name that has risen to international renown over the last two decades, through pure talent and steady growth. Maturing under the tutelage of Midnite, her unique style reflects both the distinctive roots vibe of the Virgin Islands and her unwavering spiritual convictions, so perfectly transported on her debut Fya (2001) and subsequent albums.

With Guardian, she now presents her sixth full studio work, introducing ten original songs. The album has been produced, recorded and mixed solely by Kardelle “Mr. Pr3z” President, a multi-talented musician from St. Croix who has also played all the instruments.  

Starting with the title track, listeners find themselves right in the midst of the meditative, hypnotic chanting Dezarie has become associated with. Lyric-wise it is an affirmation of the protective powers of the Most High, citing psalms of the bible and calling the angels to rally round. Lion Is Lion is another biblical elaboration, referring, of course, to the “Lion of Judah”, Emperor Haile Selassie.

Back To The Future is more worldly in the tale it tells, speaking about the crazy rush of modern times to get ever higher, faster, further… and technical developments such as AI, implantable chips and spacecrafts are cited as Babylonian evils we should be wary of. This critical stance is perpetuated in tracks like Immortal Combat, Snake Charmer or Criminal, all of which bring to our attention the wrongs done by an unspecified “them” – people who are “power-hungry, money-hungry, the ingredients of greed”. The latter track includes two guest musicians, Kevongh Grant on bass and Timothy Deal on sax, adding a lively touch to the steady reggae instrumental.

While most songs can be classified as such, No Failure is a notable exception. On a beat that has definite trap elements, Dezarie shows her vocal versatility by spitting bars of empowerment: “We been come yah to be no failure, we been come yah to be no loser, to be no fool!” Both Breathe In Strength and Hold On have more advice in store for us. The former is talking about the health-promoting power of deep breathing techniques (“breathe in strength, breathe out stress”) and mental shifts (“show love and fear less”), the latter is a call for resilience: “People hold on to the truth and don’t fall for everything…” With its gentle skank, beautiful melodies and important messages, it rightfully claimed its rank as personal favorite after the first round of listening, with goosebumps caused not only by Dezarie’s intense voice, but also by the sweet harmonies added by backing singer Kendalisse Languedoc.

The album closes with Who Is Who, another slow-paced gem reminiscent of the well-known Love In Your Meditation. It reminds us that “life is trying to show you” who are the people you can count on – you just need to listen.

Listening is a suggestion that I can wholeheartedly make for this album, too. Guardian is a fine continuation of the journey Dezarie embarked on so many years ago, exploring new paths with producer Mr. Pr3z. Grace, talent and consciousness – a wonderful combination that will hopefully be heard and seen on stages all over the world!  

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