Although JOVM is a (mostly) one-man operation, I receive a lot of emails from a variety of artists, labels and publicists located all over the world. Naturally, it’s overwhelming and flattering but at the same time, it makes my own mission of covering and presenting music from all over the world so much easier. 

Yesterday, I received an email from a Geneva, Switzerland-based Haitian musician, Ted G. Beaubrun, who writes, records and performs under the moniker of T doz (pronounced Ti doze). Born in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, Beaubrun is a descendant of one of the Caribbean island nation’s most prestigious and socially committed musical families – his grandfather Theodore was a prominent drummer; his father, Theodore, Jr. and his mother, Mimerose (lovingly nicknamed Manze) formed Boukman Eksperyans, known across Haiti as the forefathers of roots (known as racine) music. 

With such a musical pedigree, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Ted G. Beaubrun was naturally gifted; so gifted that he wrote his first composition at 6. As a boy, he quickly mastered several of the traditional Haitian Vodou rhythms and by 12, he had joined Boukman Eskperyans on international tours. And by 2008, he became Boukman Eskperyans’ main arranger. 

The younger Beaubrun has also produced several albums and has also composed film scores, further adding to the image of an exceptionally talented man. As a solo artist, his work is percussive, sweaty and trance-inducing, as you’ll hear on “Ogou,"a track off his solo debut, Lacher Prise that pays homage to the spirit of fire, strength and war that’s also considered a guiding spirit that can teach the worshipper to overcome their fears, doubts and weaknesses.