SOCANEWS Free
i113/march 2016 ISSN 1464-7087
socanews.com
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CONTENTS
march 2016 | issue 113
soca people
regular
18 tallpree
07 NEWS 20 MUSIC
Mad for jab
FLR Radio Top Ten Music reviews Videos Soca on the Web
29 EVENTS
review 10 kes and guests rock 4 SN MARCH 2016
features 14 cocoyea 35
soca people 20 sekon sta A rising sta
26 triniboi joocie A Joocie success story
get listed If you are a carnival organiser, promoter, mas band, steelband, soca sound, community group or other participant who’s feeling left out because we didn’t mention your event, or if you’d like to advertise in the magazine or online, the remedy is in your hands. Get in touch! Give us a call on 0333 012 4643
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ed's letter WELCOME Wait a minute! It’s March already? It seems that no sooner did I say beads and feathers, but Carnival was all over. Well, of course, that was just some carnivals - with many more to come later in the year. See our full list in the April issue. I thought to myself recently, if only you could make a living from this. I don’t know about you, but soca music, that infectious beat and those lyrics, can really turn around a bad mood. Well, onto the rest of the month; if there’s one event you need to check out it’s the Cocoyea Easter Fete on Bank Holiday Easter Monday, 28 March, which will feature Tallpree, Sekon Sta, Triniboi Joocie and Giselle - all backed by One The Band. We are always looking for new writers, and I have been told that everyone has at least one good story in them. If you’re interested in contributing to Soca News, please do get in touch; email us at info@ socanews.com, and let’s get your name in print. For more information about all news and carnival-related events, and to hear and see the latest soca music tracks and videos, go to our website at www.socanews.com Until the next time. Yours in soca
Published By Joseph Charles Publishing, 86 - 90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE. Telephone + 44 (0) 333 012 4643 Twitter | twitter.com/socanews Instagram | instagram.com/socanews Facebook | facebook.com/socanews Website socanews.com This issue of Soca News was brought to you by: Publisher & Editor Joseph Charles. Sub-Editor Katie Segal Consulting-Editor Stephen Spark. Layout & Design Joseph Charles. Contributors Nicole-Rachelle Moore, Natasha Ofosu, Stephen Spark, Martin Jay & Front Line Radio. Photographers Stephen Spark, Victor Morris & Peter Hogan. Thanks to Feminine Touch & Debbie Melchor The views expressed in Soca News are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. All material contained within this publication is the copyright of Soca News. No material, written or photographic may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. No liability will be accepted for any errors which may occur within the magazine.
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news
Arise, Sir Derek Text | Natasha Ofosu
Nobel prize winning poet and playwright Derek Walcott has been knighted. He was amongst three St Lucians to receive the Knight and Dame Commander of the Order of St Lucia awards, which are being given for the first time in 2016. Also receiving a knighthood was former prime minister Dr Vaughan Lewis, whilst educator and cultural activist Lawrence Martha Priscilla Laurent was created a dame. The titles, conferred by Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy as part of the island’s 37 years of independence celebrations in February, recognised recipients for their ‘exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to St Lucia’. Known as the Helen of the West Indies because it frequently changed hands between Britain and France, St Lucia attained political independence from Britain on 22 February 1979. It retains the British monarch as Head of State, who is represented on the island by the Governor General. The Order of St Lucia was established in 1980 by Queen Elizabeth, and comprises seven classes ranging in seniority from the National
Service Medal at the lowest rank, to the Grand Cross at the highest. The Knight and Dame Commander class ranks just below the Grand Cross, and may be awarded to a maximum of three people every two years. Walcott, 86, is currently Professor of Poetry at the University of Essex in England. No stranger to awards, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1972, and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992 for his epic poem, Omeros. In 2011 he was awarded the TS Eliot Prize and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature for his poetry collection White Egrets. He received a Lifetime Recognition Award in 2015 from the Griffin Trust for excellence in poetry.
socanews.com/news MARCH 2016 SN 7
news
St Lucia Jazz festivalturns 25 Text | Natasha Ofosu
Latin music will take pride of place at the St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2016, with Marc Anthony headlining the event. The multi-award winning salsa and Latin pop singer is scheduled to perform on Sunday 8 May, the final day of the festival, as part of the main stage line-up at the Pigeon Island National landmark. Other heavyweights confirmed to perform on the main stage include soul music legends George Benson and Kool and the Gang, zouk pioneers Kassav, reggae’s ‘Mr Lover Lover’ Shaggy and Jamaican pop sensation Omi. St Lucia will be represented by veteran jazz guitarist Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson and soca singer Teddyson John. Now in its 25th year, St Lucia Jazz Festival is the Caribbean’s longest running music and arts celebration. A representative from the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, which organises the event, said that to mark this milestone the selection of artists, “Deliberately combines past performers deemed by patrons to be among their most memorable, mixed with contemporary chart-toppers.” The festival opens on 29 April, and runs for 10 days. A host of musical and arts events will take 8 SN MARCH 2016
marc anthony
place throughout the country, including a tribute to recently knighted Nobel Prize winner Sir Derek Walcott with a staging of his poem Omeros, adapted for performance by the author and produced by the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, London. An Arts Village, with a dedicated site in the north of the island, will feature literary, visual and performing arts, whilst the acclaimed fashion show ‘Hot Couture’ will return with a spotlight on Saint Lucia’s and the region’s cutting edge style. For more information about the festival, visit www.stluciajazz.org.
c.l.r. james film launch WORLDwrite’s long-awaited film, Every Cook Can Govern, is the first feature-length documentary to explore the life, writings and politics of the great Trinidad-born revolutionary C.L.R. James, who died in Brixton in 1989. The 31 March launch is free for more information, visit our C.L.R. James Knowledge Portal.
Soca Music Fest re-branded Text | Natasha Ofosu
Two years after it was launched to promote the ‘feel-good’ party music that is soca, the UK’s Soca Music Festival is being expanded to include more Caribbean genres. Reggae and salsa will be a part of the 2016 music showcase for the first time, sparking a name change as th event becomes the Caribbean Music Festival (CMF). The festival will also move further north - from its previous home in Luton, to Liverpool - where it is set to be a feature of that city’s carnival celebrations. Festival director Garvin Johnson said he was “extremely excited” about the changes which are afoot, as they will enable a new audience to enjoy the diversity of Caribbean music. “Soca music is our passion and the original reason for the festival was to create more awareness about the sounds of soca,” Johnson explained. “The change comes because comparing the sounds of Caribbean music allows us to depict the diverse nature of [the] music while highlighting similarities and influences on each other.” The CMF takes place on Saturday 9 July 2016, followed by an after party. A pre-festival launch is scheduled for 8 July. So far the line-up includes
garvin ‘scrappy’ johnson festival promoter
Scrappy and the Tropical Storm Band, Ms Desire, Natia Daniel, Terrah Dan, Zouk Band, Charma D and Gwanaval Drum Group. DJs Spy, CJ, and ICEBERGG will be playing sets, and the event will be hosted by veteran DJ Martin Jay. For further information about the festival, go to: www.caribbeanmusicfestival.co.uk.
Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell The prestigious honour of Order of National Hero has posthumously been bestowed on the late Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell for his outstanding contribution to culture in the field of calypso, and especially his unparalleled international achievement in the genre of soca. His song Hot Hot Hot has been sung in more than 14 languages worldwide. The Annual National Honours and Awards were created to foster patriotism and national pride in Montserrat. The ceremony honours Montserratians who have selflessly contributed and committed to the development and advancement of Montserrat. MARCH 2016 SN 9
review
Kes and guests rock Some carnival concerts focus on celebrating the artist who is the promoter, whilst others honour the music and musicians who the host themself loves. Kes the Band’s ‘Tuesday on the Rocks’ (TOTR), held on 2 February, was every bit the latter. It was telling that only three of the night’s guests had recorded collaborations with their host. Text | Natasha Ofosu
It was also a ‘big people party’, attracting predominantly mature people and couples. And, in keeping with the event’s theme, “Where the world meets”, the audience was noticeably multi-racial. Led by Kees Dieffenthaller, the band opened with their current hit, People - fitting, as it pays tribute to God, their fans and loved ones. They ran through a suite of their popular songs from recent years, such as Falling, Just Wanna Jam, Thief ah Wine, Ah Ting and Million. Lyrikal (Devon Martin) was Kes’ first guest, and joined them to perform their 2016 duet Unlimited Vibes - but took the song to new heights
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with a hand-clapping, foot-stomping Southern American Gospel jam, featuring an organ. Lyrikal kept the momentum going as he sang his solo tracks, Freedom, Cloud 9 and Dip and Roll. He paved the way for St Lucian Teddyson John, who gave another flawless performance of his positive song, Allez. One of the stellar moments of the show was the ‘old school’ segment, featuring calypsonians Baron (Timothy Watkins), the Mighty Shadow (Winston Bailey) and David Rudder. They each performed a couple of hits, prompting an enthusiastic singalong from the crowd. Baron led the nostalgia with Feeling It and
Somebody, his voice sounding as sweet as when he released the songs. Shadow followed, and delivered what some consider his finest calypso - Music (aka Dingolay). He could have stood on stage with his arms folded and his mouth shut, since the crowd took over the singing; the consummate performer that he is, he of course did no such thing. However, in sharp contrast, Shadow’s second number, What You Come Here For, fell flat- perhaps because the audience was less familiar with it. The intensity resurfaced and hit a real high when Rudder appeared and turned the O2 Park, Chaguaramas, into a lunatic asylum with his song, Madness. He and Kees then gave a beautiful rendition of Live Yuh Life (Like Yuh Playing Mas), their unity-promoting duet from 2012. Kees kept the mood introspective when he performed a partly a capella version of the soft rock song, Lion, and the band followed with their latest pop offerings, Balloons, during which white balloons were released into the night sky, and On My Way to Save You, which fuses rock, pop and reggae. After segueing into reggae, the band performed Can’t Wait, their own dancehall track, as well as the two popular songs on the Jambe An riddim: Charly
Black’s Party Animal and Non-Stop by International Soca Monarch (ISM) finalist Pternsky. This neatly set up the entrance of Jamaican dancehall star Cham (Damian Beckett), better known by his previous stage name, Baby Cham. Cham brought a raw tone to the night’s proceedings - which was not to everyone’s liking. A number of people could be seen walking out once he started his performance. After a short freestyle on the Jambe An riddim, he began singing his own tracks including Wine, Joy Ride and Ghetto Story, throughout entertaining with deft dance moves. One Jamaican to whom everyone gravitated was surprise guest and international chart topper Omi (Omar Samuel Pasley). He introduced himself with one verse and chorus of the original version of Hula Hoop, before performing his smash hit Cheerleader. Unfortunately, although his vocals were more audible than at Machel Monday the night before, the sound engineers still failed to get the right microphone volume levels for Omi; as a result, his voice was quite soft and lacking in impact. Technical glitches caused Kes the Band to have to deliver acoustic interpretations of Stress Away, Tuesday on the Rocks - the song from which the concert
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takes its name - and Endless Summer. Perhaps that was a secret gift from the engineers. Normality was restored by the time respected singer-songwriters R City took to the stage. The duo, comprising brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas, hail from the US Virgin Islands and have written for some of the biggest names in contemporary music: Usher, Rihanna, Akon, Justin Beiber and Nicky Minaj amongst them. They performed a snippet of Beiber’s Sorry with Kees, before letting loose on the track Make Up and their 2015 hit, Locked Away. The brothers explained that the latter is based on their family’s experience when their father was imprisoned, leaving their mother to raise them alone. The original recording features the vocals of Adam Levine, frontman of pop band Maroon 5. Rounding off the night’s complement of guest performers were soca artist Voice (Aaron St Louis) and singer Chris Hierro. Kees publicly endorsed Voice, whose song Cheers to Life was already hugely
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popular, to win the International Soca Monarch title on 5 February, saying, “I don’t care what they say, this boy going and win Soca Monarch in my books.” The young singer performed with the confidence of a winner – which of course he did go on to become. Hierro, whose roots are in the Dominican Republic, injected some Latin flavour into the show when he performed Body Talk with the band, and had the additional help of a female Latin dancer, whose thrusts and struts brought the song’s lyrics to life. The band closed their stage show just as they had started - with a performance of People. Joined by percussionists from the Laventille Rhythm Section and moko jumbie characters on stilts, this was an extended encore as Kees also introduced and thanked the band members and all of their guests. Much to the delight of patrons, the party continued for a short time afterwards on the grounds of the O2 Park, as the Laventille Rhythm Section beat out African rhythms on their drums and steel pans.
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FEATURE
COCOYEA 35
dexter kahn
We’re now in 2016, and that fresh faced juvenile, who’s been part of the soca scene for over three generations, reaches its 35th year. Please join us in wishing Cocoyea a very ‘Happy Anniversary’. Now seems an appropriate time to talk about the beginnings, and the story along the way. Cocoyea was born of Metronomes Steel Orchestra back in the late ‘70s, conceived and nurtured by Dexter Kahn, with the help of others. In those days, Peter Minshall designed for Metronomes. Cocoyea has been at the forefront of presenting soca music to the masses, over the years bringing many household names live and direct to London audiences: David Rudder, Machel Montano, Colin Lucas, Iwer George, Anslem Douglas, Baron, Skunky, 3canal, Ronnie McIntosh, United Sisters, Tallpree, SWStorm, Nigel and Marvin Lewis, plus so many others. Now deceased and much-missed calypsonian Skunky 14 SN MARCH 2016
(Odian Cyrus) composed and sang the band’s theme song, Cocoyea All the Way. From the first mas band back in the 80’s, Cocoyea have worked with some of the most prolific mas designers, including Nikki Lyons and Wayne Berkeley. Wayne designed for them for over 15 years, giving them a record-breaking win of King, Queen, and Male and Female Individuals for two years running. Cocoyea were the first band from London to be invited to present their costumes in the Big Yard T&T, when they took their winning King and Queen (Ian Kahn and Evelyn Noriega) with theme ‘Plantation’, designed by Nikki Lyons. The very first Cocoyea fete was at Swiss Cottage
MACHEL MONTANO PERFORMING FOR COCOYEA
RUDE BOY ARRON, MACHEL MONTANO, SMOKEY JOE & DJ SLIC
Community Centre, where doors were closed by 6pm because they’d reached capacity, and individuals stormed the place by jumping the wall to gain access – you know who you are! And then on to Camden Palace, then Forum - doors were also shut by 6pm while a ‘one in, one out’ policy was put in place – and then Ocean and Scala. Cocoyea later introduced the first ‘Recession Fete’, as they grew and adapted over the generations to ensure that they were accessible to all. The DJ line-up over the years has been extensive, ensuring that the Cocoyea brand has remained on the lips of adults and youngsters alike. DJ’s have included: Lord Sam, Feminine Touch, BWIA Road
We went from our very first fete at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, where doors were closed by 6pm because we had reached capacity and individuals stormed the fete by jumping the wall
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DJ SLIC, FEMININE TOUCH, MIKE FORBES, MARTIN JAY, DJ MARKEE & SOCA MASSIVE COCOYEA - 21ST ANNIVERSARY DINNER
OLATUNJI YEARWOOD & SKUNKY COCOYEA SOCA EVENINGS
DJ ROUGHNECK, RUDE BOY ARRON, MIKE FORBES, SOCA MASSIVE, LORD SAM, DJ MARKEE, DJ SLIC & SMOKEY JOE COCOYEA - 21ST ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Show’s Smokey Joe, Bambino, Martin Jay, Rude Boy Arron, ChéInTheMIXX, DJ Slic, Mike Forbes, DJ Fats and Zoomer D – and then Cocoyea’s Soca Army, who are Lyrical Louix, Soca Massive, DJ Markee, DJ Roughneck, Mr Mention and Vinny Ranks. Many have moved on from Cocoyea to create their own bands, such as Clary Salandy with Mahogany, Nikki Lyons with Oval Lions and South Connection, and Pure Lime, Arawaks, Poison UK and Chocolate Nation. We had a brief chat with band member Ian, whose father Dexter is Cocoyea’s bandleader. He said, “We have given mas and soca more of a foothold within the diverse mix of cultures that make up London. Like all organisations, we have to change and adapt 16 SN MARCH 2016
to meet the ever-changing market, and draw on an ever-growing audience of revellers and masqueraders. Evolution has taught us that we either adapt or die. “As this is part of our heritage it will never be time to stop… We now need to fuse soca with the changing music of garage, house, reggae, and in that make it more appealing to the diverse mix of cultures outside home in T&T.” Who would have thought that, from those inspirational years back in the 70’s when Cocoyea went chipping down the road with Metronomes Steel Orchestra, they’d be here now, using 40ft trailers with digital multimedia screens, and a presentation celebrating 35 years of playing mas. Watch this space!
CELEBRATION NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2002
for more check
cocoyea.com MARCH 2016 SN 17
soca people
Tallpree Mad for Jab
When Grenadian artist Tallpree burst onto the soca scene in 1999 with his hit Old Woman Alone, it marked the start of Jab Jab music’s ascent from an obscure sub-genre of soca to one that is recognised internationally in its own right. Text | Natasha Ofosu
While not credited as the originator of Jab Jab - an accolade attributed to the Grenadian band Moss International, who are said to have been the first to have included the conch shell in their recordings - Tallpree is now hailed as the undisputed King of Jab. The singer, whose real name is Wilt Cambridge, has been unwavering in his commitment to the music. He has produced memorable dancefloor fillers such as The Grave, the Jail and the Hospital with which he won the Grenada Road March title in 2000, Jab Jab Crew with Alison Hinds (2002), Wicked Jab (2009), and Jab Jab Nation on the Vintage riddim (2013). Jab, which comes from the French word ‘diable’ meaning ‘devil’, is a distinctly percussive sound with a three-beat repeated refrain (often rung out on a conch shell). The word also refers to the devil masqueraders in Carnival (called Spice Mas in Grenada) who, smeared in black oil, mud or paint, wearing horns and carrying chains, whips or even serpents, depict the evils meted out to enslaved Africans by their colonial masters. Tallpree has explained that “Jab music is a movement” which Grenadians, including him, are immersed in from childhood. “Grenadians live for Jab. Just as the fancy costumes in Trinidad is the big 18 SN MARCH 2016
thing, J’Ouvert is the biggest thing in Grenada when it comes to Carnival,” he said. “That passion, that energy, that vibe is always there.” Tallpree began his music career as a reggae dancehall singer. He switched genres to soca in 1997, a decision which began to pay dividends two years later. He won the Spice Mas Road March title twice, in 2000 and 2001, and in 2003 he was crowned Soca Monarch. Tallpree established his Preeday concert in 2011 on the Wednesday before the climax of Spice Mas. The annual event has grown to become one of the premium shows of the carnival, attracting top-draw local and regional artists. The signs, based on the music he has released thus far, are that 2016 will be a blistering year for Tallpree. Doh Touch Me on the Sick Jab riddim has an irrepressible vibe, and We Dirty on the Jumbie Jab riddim adds a new element of synthesised/electronic dance music beats to the traditional jab rhythm. He also has a number of hot collaborations: Sugar Cane, a double entendre with Psycho Bob; Born Mad with Slammer Cutter from Toronto; Fraid Jab with Trinidadian radio presenter and soca artist Shal Marshall; Powder, a straight up power soca duet with Nadia Batson.
You can Catch
tallpree
performing at Cocoyea’s Easter MondaY Fete’ MARCH 2016 SN 19
soca people
sekon sta a rising sta
He bears the name of one of the world’s great singers and is the son of a prolific calypsonian and songwriter, so it’s not a huge leap to conclude that Trinidadian soca artist Nesta Boxill, stage name Sekon Sta, is destined for greatness. Text | Natasha Ofosu
Boxill was named - after reggae icon Robert Nesta Marley - by his father, the late Dennis Franklyn Williams, better known as Merchant, who penned such hits as Caribbean Connection, Rock It and Pan in Danger. Merchant died in May 1999, but before he departed, Boxill says his father made sure he introduced him to his contacts and let them know his son would one day be a singer. “My father was around in his fullest capacity until the day he died,” Boxill said in an interview in 2015. “He gave me all the tools I needed to survive to this day.” One such tool was songwriting, which initially brought Boxill recognition in the industry. He has written for Kerwin Du Bois, Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, Lil Rick and 5 Star Akil. In 2014, after several knock-backs, he got the chance to write for King Bubba from Barbados. The result was the party anthem, Who Drinking Rum. Boxill has been singing since 2001, the first year he entered the Trinidad Junior Soca Monarch contest.
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In 2005, at the age of 15, he became the youngest person ever to make the final of the International Groovy Soca Monarch competition. In 2015, Boxill enjoyed one of his most successful years, with a number of songs on heavy rotation on radio and in fetes, including The Best (on the Kan Kan Riddim), Maximum, and In Charge, a catchy jab jab tune on the Bitter Riddim. He capped this success by winning the accolade of ‘International Soca Monarch Breakout Artiste’. Boxill has produced another suite of strong songs in 2016: Pressure (on the Gold Medal Riddim) and Magic with Nadia Batson, which took him to the final of the 2016 International Soca Monarch competition. The young singer/songwriter says that following in his father’s footsteps has been the right move for him. “At the end of the day I was born for this. I could try to do other things, but I would probably fail miserably.”
You can Catch
sekon sta
performing at Cocoyea’s Easter MondaY Fete’ MARCH 2016 SN 21
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music
top 10 soca tracks The Frontline radio, now in its tenth year, provides its listeners with the hottest new flavas in hip hop, soca, house, reggae and more. They offers a 24 hour, 365 days a year broadcasting experience. To listen, log on to www.flrradio. com. Remember to tell ah friend to tell ah next friend, that the best place to lime is on D’Frontline!
BUM BUM
PRESSURE
CHEERS TO LIFE
TRUCK DRIVER
THIRD BASS
SEKON STA
VOICE
SHURWAYNE WINCHESTER
DIFFERENT ME
FOREVER YOUNG
TEMPERATURE
SW STORM
SOCA IN THE SIXTH
LEH WE FETE
5STAR AKIL
RIKKI JAI
MACHEL MONTANO
BAMBILAMBAMBILAMBILAMBAM FARMER NAPPY
SSTYLES
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music music reviews reviewed by martin jay
mi Best padna nayee
Mon Bon Ami angela hunte
As the 2015 Carnival season in Trinidad started to reach fever pitch the name Angela Hunte was being heard more and more, due to her massive carnival hit collaboration with Machel Montano, Party Done. Angela Hunte is an established songwriter in other genres of music, but this emergence into the world of Carnival was perhaps inevitable; she has both Trinidadian and Bajan heritage, so you could say it’s in her blood. There is a saying that you’re only as good as your last song, so it was important that Ms Hunte reprise her success in 2016. The Ti Punch riddim is a fusion of riddims and flavours. It reminds me of zouk love music, a sound that you would associate with quadrille dancing, especially in the French Caribbean. Mon Bon Ami, meaning ‘my good friend’, is a song that you will find easy to move to and easy to sing along to. Angela has a very distinct voice, and the phrasing of her songs makes them very catchy. It is always daunting when you set such a high standard in your first year, but I think it would be fair to say that Angela Hunte has maintained her standard with this very popular 2016 Carnival song. I am intrigued to see what she’ll come out with next. 24 SN MARCH 2016
Neijel Jno Baptiste, aka Nayee, was a member of top Dominican band WCK for over a decade before he left the band a couple of years ago to pursue a solo career. Dominica is best known for its bouyon sound, which was introduced to the world by the original members of the WCK Band in the early 1990’s - prior to Nayee joining them. Mi Best Padna can best be described as a groovy soca song, not a sound that you would immediately associate coming from the land of many rivers. This is a melodic number, where Nayee refers to rum as being his best liming padna (friend). Although I don’t know too much about the production of this song, I like the fact that it incorporates the steelpan; it adds a pleasant vibe to an already groovy song. Nayee is a seasoned artist with much experience of working with Dominica’s most popular band, and this track has a great sound that will appeal to more than just a Dominican market. This is the kind of song that will introduce Nayee as an individual artist to the Caribbean audience.
socanews.com /music
videos
soca on the web
we muzik vol7
SUNDAY 4-7pm Smokey Joe and Danny D, Bang Radio 103.6 (www.wearebang.com).
can you feel it aaron duncan
5-8pm
Mega Mix Show with DJ Cris, www. vibesfm.com (web only).
6-8pm The Caribbean Affair, Martin Jay, bakahnalradio.com (web only). 8-11pm
The Calalloo Show with Digga D, largeradio.com.
MONDAY
party capital nadia batson
10-12pm Bacchanal Vybes of Soca, Soca Devil, RJR 98.3FM (www.radiorjr.com)
TUESDAY 7-9pm
Soca City, Mz Tiney Winey, Bakahnal Radio (www.bakahnalradio.com)
FRIDAY
how yuh want it king bubba fm
9-11pm Caribbean Sessions Showcase, DJ CJay, www.caribbeansessions. co.uk
SATURDAY 12-2pm Caribbean House Party, Feminine Touch, Supreme FM 99.8 (su premefmlive.ning.com)
sorry (no second chances) kimba sorzano
digital downloads
If you have or know of a radio programme that you would like to see included in this section, please email admin@socanews.com with all the relevant information.
various artist
Fifteen songs from some of the most talented and trendy artists within the soca scene are the ingredients of this 2016 soca music album from top production team, Precision. Machel Montano’s Roadmarch winning song Waiting on the Stage and Voice’s Soca Monarch winning song Cheers To Life both have a place on this vibrant collection of tracks. I am of the opinion that a good album is one that is balanced, and I think that We Muzik Vol. 7 has that. Not only do you have the abovementioned winning tunes, and Kerwin’s massive hit song Unforgettable featuring Patrice Roberts, there are also have some really great tracks that didn’t get as much airplay or attention as they deserve. There is a wide range of artists on this album including Destra Garcia (Stranded), Preedy (Unruly), Antigua’s Tian Winter (In De Middle), 5 Star Akil (Wifey Material), The Vincy superstar Skinny Fabulous (No Other Way), and the very hard working Lil Bitts (Work). Nadia Batson, GBM Nutron and Kerlz complete the line-up. The way we listen to and purchase music has changed dramatically in the last few years so a good, strong album such as this is quite a rarity. MARCH 2016 SN 25
soca people
triniboi joocie A Joocie success story
UK-based soca artist Triniboi Joocie has, in a short space of time, leapt to the forefront of his craft. In five years he has won both the UK Soca Monarch and Road March titles - the only UK artist yet to have done so. Text | Natasha Ofosu
Rodell Sorzano was born in Trinidad. He has been singing since childhood, and is also an accomplished steelpan player. He migrated to the UK in 1998, and began his professional soca career in 2010. Joocie’s sobriquet reflects his patriotism, as well as his intention to make music that is ‘juicy’ - as in, irresistible. In his debut year he placed second in the UK Soca Monarch competition, and won the Power Soca Monarch category two years later. He followed that success in 2013 by winning the double, when he clinched both the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch titles. Joocie continued his dominance of the British soca scene by winning consecutive Road March titles at Notting Hill Carnival in 2014 and 2015. The singer, who writes much of his own material, has said that his music reflects a variety of influences found around him in the UK. “My music is an eclectic sound. It’s a blend of different genres,” he explained. “I get a lot of inspiration from Grime, which is UK hip-hop/underground music, house [music], as well as soca.” Those influences may be heard on tracks such as Go Down, a Grime-tinged, house music -infused song from 2012, and the relentlessly energetic tune The Beast in Me, which he produced in collaboration with Kernal Roberts, the composer responsible for most of Machel Montano’s Road March hits. Joocie seems to have a penchant for up-tempo tunes, and has produced memorable dance numbers including Must Be In That (on the Wreck It riddim), Iz We (which was picked up by Trinidad radio stations), 26 SN MARCH 2016
Party For Dem, and his 2015 Road March winner, Mawd. Whilst his status in the UK is beyond doubt, Joocie has had to work hard to build his profile in his birth island of Trinidad. He made some progress in 2014, when he was a semi-finalist in the International Soca Monarch (ISM) competition, and in 2015 returned with a strong media campaign. However, he failed to capitalise on these efforts for Carnival 2016 despite his song Las Wuk, released in January 2016, having the potential to be a huge hit. The song, on which Joocie’s vocals are showcased beautifully, has a laid-back vibe and a timeless quality. It is also in sync with the music being produced by his Trinidad-based contemporaries such as Flipo and ISM 2016 winner Voice, which adds to its appeal. As crucial as Trinidad is to his career, Joocie has understood the importance of spreading his music beyond familiar audiences. He performed with British jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine at the Love Supreme soul music festival in 2014, revealing soca to many of the 40,000-strong crowd for the first time. In the same year he won the regional final and made it to the national final of Open Mic UK, the UK’s biggest competition for unsigned acts. Having a university degree in Performing Arts has helped. Joocie said, “I am able to apply myself correctly in terms of the business aspect [of the music] as well as production-wise, so I can look closely at what I’m putting out and see how I can appeal to a broader audience, and appeal to international audiences, not only to the Caribbean diaspora.”
You can Catch
triniboi joocie
performing at Cocoyea’s Easter MondaY Fete’ MARCH 2016 SN 27
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events
SOCANEWS.COM /EVENTS
19
MAR
IGNITE DE FETERZ MAS
HORIZON - CARNIVAL LAUNCH PARTY
@ Venture Centre, 103A Wornington Road, W10 5YB. DJs DJ Flex & Triple M. Time 7pm-midnight.
24
MAR D RIDDIM TRIBE
2016 BAND LAUNCH
@ Dingwalls, Middle Yard, Camden Lock, NW1 8AB. DJs Mr Hardwine, DJ Bliss, Credable, Hyper Spice & Digga D. Time 9pm-3am.
25
MAR
SOCAHOLIC & UCOM EASTER TING @ Ruby Blue, 1 Leicester Place,
You are strongly advised to check with the event promoter, as details sometimes change and cancellations may occur; all information was correct at the time of going to print.
WC2H 7BP. DJs DJ Chris Vee, DJ Knightz Beatz, Mr Hype & Jamzy. Price £8 & £12 otd. Time 9pm-3am.
26
MAR
CAMERON PIERRE & FELIX RUIZ
CALYPSO MUSIC
@ The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, W11 2AY. Price £15, under 12s go free but must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Time 7.30pm. Showtime 8pm.
CHOCOLATE NATION
C’EST LA VIE
@ Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2JH. Price £25 inclusive of a Caribbean meal. Time 8.30pm; sailing 9pm sharp.
SMT PROMOTIONS & THE HERITAGE
SOCA FEST - THE
EASTER JAM
@ Heritage Inn Rhum Bar, 301 Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 6PG. DJs Supa Nytro, Allmighty Soundz (Jah Eyez & DJ Remstar) & Shakatak. Price £5 b4 11pm, £7 thereafter. Time 9pm-3am.
TROPICAL RADIO & TV
SOCA EXPLOSION GLOW YORKSHIRE
@ The Yorkshire Lounge, Huddersfield, HD2 1YZ. Live acts Soca Princess, Dan Dan & Terrah Dan. DJs Mr Wotless, DJ Tate, Soca Scorcher & Roots Man Skin Head. Price £8. Time 10pm-Late. Info 0161 273 5622 or 07760 671 314.
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events KEY: [18] = OVER 18 & ID WILL BE REQUIRED | BF = BOOKING FEE
27
TAMA RA SOIREE MAR
FUNATIK MAS
FANTASY OF THE DEEP
@ Holiday Inn London - Bloomsbury, Coram Street, WC1N 1HT. DJs Super Trini, Martin Jay & DJ Rolo. Price £50 & £15. Time 6pm2am. Tel 07950 407 199.
RELEASE D RIDDIM
RED EYE
@ Protocol, 6 South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, SW8 1SP. DJs Credable, Mr Hardwine, DJ Bliss, QT 2Hype & DJ Tate. Price £10, £12 & £15. Time 10pm-4.30am.
28
MAR
COCOYEA LONDON
THE ORIGINAL EASTER MONDAY FETE
@ The Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL. Live acts Tallpree, Sekon Sta, Triniboi Joocie, Giselle & One The Band. DJs The Smokey Joe Roadshow. Price £15, motd. Time 6pm-midnight. Tel 07956 223 247.
02
APR WESTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
MINGLE - THE ALL WHITE EDITION
@ Cavendish Banqueting Suite, Edgware Road, NW9 5AE. DJs DJ Tate, DJ Bones, QT 2Hype, Shaker HD, Matchiz & DJ Bajie. Time 10pm-4am.
DSKII IN CONJ. WITH SYNDICATE
TROPICAL MAS BAND LAUNCH PARTY
@ All Bar One VIP Lounge O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX. Price £8, £10, £20 VIP, motd. Time 7pm-3am. Showtime 9pm. 30 SN MARCH 2016
A NIGHT OF MUSIC ART & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT @ Holiday Inn London - Bloomsbury, Coram Street, WC1N 1HT. DJs Studio Express, Natty Vibe Sounds, DJ Boots & Zoomer D. Price £40 includes all you can eat buffet. Time 7pm-2am.
D.A CONNECTIONZ
OLD SKOOL MEETS NEW SKOOL
@ RnR Wine Bar, 225 Chingford Mount Road, Chingford, E4 8LP. DJs DJ Red Boy, Fatman & Colonel & Mr Mention (Soca Mafia). Price £10. Time 10pm-4am.
03
APR
SOCA MASSIVE FANCY SAILORS UK
CARNIVAL SHOWCASE
09
BAJAN RUMSHOP
RAW LICQUER SPRING BLING
@ Addictive, 28 Park Royal Road, NW10 7JW. DJs Supreme Blessings Sounds. Price £8 & £10. Time 9pm-3am.
16
SOCA MAD HOUSE
@ Fire Club, 39 Parry Street, SW8 1RT. Hosted by Silk Flaz. Live acts Preedy & Triniboi Joocie. DJs Bostman, DJ Limzy, DJ Majikal, C Jay, QT 2Hype & Twin T. Price £10 & £15, motd. Time 11pm.
22
SOUTH CONNECTIONS
THE BIG SCREEN
EPIC
07
29
APR
SLU PROMOTIONS
CARIBBEAN NIGHT AFTER WORK LIME
@ The Cock Tavern, 125 Kilburn High Road, NW6 6JH. DJs DJ VJ. Price free entry. Time 6pmmidnight.
BURROKEETS UK
2016 BAND LAUNCH
@ Ruby Blue, 1 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BP. Price free entry. Time 6pm-late.
APR
FLAGZ
@ RnR Wine Bar, 225 Chingford Mount Road, Chingford, E4 8LP. Price £5, band members free b4 7.30pm. Time 5pm-midnight.
@ Brixton East, 100 Barrington Road, SW9 7JF. Lives acts Triniboi Joocie. DJs DJ Scooby & Soca PhD. Price £5, motd. Time 2pm-9pm.
APR
APR
RELEASE D RIDDIM @ Club Reina, 85 Charterhouse Street, Farringdon, EC1M 6HJ. DJs Big Business, Mix Masters, DJ Bliss, Mr Hardwine & Credable. Price £10, £12 & £15 motd. Time 10pm-4am.
APR
CLUB ZOUK
DRESS UP FRIDAY GWAN MOUN & TEENAGE YEARS @ The Royal Lounge, 397 High Road, Wembley, HA9 6AA. DJs Mikey Afrique, Rude Boy Keith & Ninjaman Lloyd. Price £5, £8 & £10. Time 9pm-4am.
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