About Dretonio
It’s all in the name. This musical alter ego personifies the eclectic artist known as Dretonio, a lyricist/ singer/ songwriter that is a refreshing addition to the home grown UK talent. The saying that ‘Music is in the blood’ is true for Dretonio who cites his R’n’B singing father ‘Sinclair’ as one of his early inspirations.
An honest artist who is not afraid to diversify with his musical persona, putting his heart and soul into his music he gives life to his hard hitting hip hop inspired music. Dretonio was born and bred in London and from an early age, he found MC’ing as a channel to express the world around him, a place that he is not ashamed to explore with his audience from an angle that can only be described as positive and insightful. His energy comes alive in his speaker thumping, hard hitting rapping whilst having you chilling out and winding down to his soulful singing, always carrying a positive vibe.
History
The whole story all began at a tender age of 8 with Dretonio always listening to music in and out of the studio, singing his father’s and Michael Jackson’s songs with his sister singer Gina Marie. Professionally, it started when Dretonio entered talent shows and showcases in and around London to help build confidence. In 1995, at the age of 11 listening to a lot of Rap music he took a liking to MC’ing to jungle as he found it as a channel to express the world around him. Named Tower the great by his peers for his early inspirational rhymes, Dretonio’s first national exposure performance to a huge audience was at Stanmore College where he took the crowd by storm. Dretonio continued to sing cover songs at shows as wellas MC’ing on DJ sets with friends, until at the age 15 when he wrote a song titled ‘I believe’. This song opened his mind to creativity and inspired him to achieve more. In the year 2000, Dretonio continued his education to college to study Information Technology and Business for two years at Uxbridge College, then Sound Engineering with CMS Music. Keen to learn more about the industry, Dretonio attended a Music Business and Management course at ECAB (Eastside records) in east London in 2004. Working on the UK Showcase at UK Flow.tv as co - host and an artist performing every week was a great way to establish him on the UK urban scene, which eventually opened many doors. He began to perform at several popular London events and venues including Bar Rhumba with 1xtra's Mista Jam, Kof (urbeatz), Nutty P, Twissman, Aggro and many more...
Nominations
Dretonio was nominated for ‘Best Male Act’ BEFFTA Awards 2011 among UK Hip-Hop giants like Wretch 32, Sway, Tinchy Stryder etc…, Best ‘Urban Act’ Exposure Music Awards 2011, top 10 finalist at Urban Music Crown Awards 2010 and 2011 and Radio Cardiff Music Awards ‘Best Local Artist’ 2009.
