Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The DASECA and Music Box producers. From left: Serani, Venal Miligen (Music Box), Craig Harrisingh, Majah Bless, Courtney Swaby (Music Box) and David Harrisingh. - Krista Henry

Winner of the DASECA Producer's Pick competition, Venal Miligen, hails from the Music Box Production family out of Tivoli in West Kingston.

The haunting lyrics and the strong presence of the piano in the song Garrison carried the tune to the top of the competition. Produced by Miligen and sang by the gifted Majah Bless, the two were shocked but pleased to have won THE STAR's competition.

A full-time producer since 2002 Miligen and Majah Bless have been friends since school days but grew up apart and were called back together through the music. The name Majah Bless may be familiar to some as Bless placed in the top three of last year's JCDC popular song competition. It was Miligen who produced the songs for Majah Bless, who is now the artiste for Music Box Production of which Miligen, Courtney Swaby and Ricardo Barrett are members.

Having seen DASECA around and an admirer of their productions, Miligen was entered in the competition by his girlfriend. After making it to the top 15 he urged his Tivoli community to vote for the song which he then made it into the top five.

However, when THE STAR contacted Miligen to inform him of his win, the young producer was convinced it was a prank until he met up with DASECA and THE STAR recently.

Explaining how he got started in music, Milligen said: "I was living abroad for a while and came back, I never had anything doing. I did a course as a engineer so I bought myself a computer and been on it, but I still have a lot to learn."

Having recently shot a video for Garrison, which Music Box helped to direct, the video will soon make its world premiere. Miligen told THE STAR: "I'm hoping to shed a little light on our music, I'm trying to be a person known for their production and not from the hype of the artiste on the song, that's why we're working with an unknown artiste, who has a lot of talent."

Ricardo Barrett, also from Music Box, describes Miligen as a prolific producer, saying: "Miligen ventures out on other avenues, he does different things."

With his mind on music, Miligen promises Jamaica to look out for him and his work. Currently, Miligen is working on Majah Bless' debut album and has the rhythm 'Blue Draws' out with Maestro and Powerman from Swatch International.

Coming out of Tivoli, the group still has their studio there and hopes, through their music, they will help uplift their community. Thus far, they have worked with artistes such as Jigsy King, Frisco Kid and see regulars such as Munga Honourable, Tony Matterhorn and Macka Diamond pass through their studio.