Weblog for Caribbean music – Soca, Calypso, Pan and Carnival Culture – Est. 2003
Yes, it’s Notting Hill Carnival! The De Cooler crew will be there – so no updates for the next few days. From soca perspective most interesting is certanly the earlier mentioned Alternative Fete and Mas Dominik UK on saturday. Don’t forget Jouvert and the parade on monday!
For an nice overview of what’s happening check pan-jumbie.com or get the latest issue of Socanews magazine which is available now for free at many shops and bars.
Since a few years, almost all releases come cd-only. The last vinyl albums to my knowledge were the 2003 Krosfyah and Burning Flames albums. VP is still releasing their artists and compilations on vinyl, like 3Suns and Tony Prescott. Most soca selectors and sounds spin with cd. So what would make a label decide to release soca tunes on vinyl?
In Europe and Japan vinyl is the standard for clubs – that means every club has turntables, but only a few have professional cdjs. It is also part of the dj ethos , where a huge vinyl collection is important for the reputation.
Why does this matter for soca music?
Well, there are many djs beside the soca selectors, who spin not only soca but also reggae, hiphop, reggaeton etc. If they don’t have no soca vinyl, they won’t play soca in the club. Plus on shows where the soca-djs get small money and don’t wanna bring their own cd equipment: If there is no new soca on vinyl, soca will disappear from the club scene.
This helps to understand, why the Berlin based label Faluma has a focus on soca vinyl. Last week a 12″ version of the Pot of Gold / Nutmeg riddims was released. The Mastamind Music production was a big sucess this year – it features the Trinidad Soca Monarch 2005 tune “Blaze the fire” by Bunji Garlin.
A single release on 7″/45 of the Lava Slide Riddim is announced for early september.
decooler reader Tas says, that Claudette Peters is no longer member of Da Bhann and she joined the band Taxik. Can anyone confirm this?
Invazion has a female singer again: Trini Jacobs. The daughter of Miami-based singing couple Carl and Carol Jacobs is now part of the Point Fortin Invazion family. Former singer Fay-ann left the band during last season, leaving them without a female voice, for a solo career.
[TnTMirror.com]
70 Degrees The Alternative Concept on Friday, 26th August, 2005 is the biggest soca fete at Notting Hill Carnival in London. It takes place at The Forum Kentish Town. The line up includes Machel & Xtatik, Destra Garcia and Atlantik, Maximus Dan, Shal Marshal, Jamsey P and featuring ‘The Human Beat Box’ Doug E Fresh. BBC Radio 1 will record the event and broadcast it on Sunday 28th August and on 1Xtra on Monday August 29th. Don’t miss the afterparty at SE One.
Partygoers on saturday might check out the London Glow fete feat. Shurwayne Winchester and Denise Belfon – remember: you must wear white!
[more info on 70 degrees | full Poison UK schedule]
A new contribution to the Soca & Calypso community is online:
Socabase.com is a database and search engine for soca & calypso music data. You can search and browse for artists, tunes, riddims, albums and producers. There are also short audio samples of many soca riddims available (in low quality). The informations are linked with each other.
Just for the records: Dave Peters aka “Boogie B” is Grenada Soca Monarch and won the Grenada Roadmarch with the tune “Clear the smoke”.
Calypso King is Finley Jeffrey aka Scholar.
More results and a photo gallery can be found on spicemasgrenada.com
Mistah Shak just released his new tune called “Bombing”, which is dealing with terrorist attacks all over the world. Voiced on a new riddim entitled “De Showdown Riddim” produced by Orin “Octane” Wilson (Riccochet Productions), who is working on a riddim compilation with tunes by other artistes. Vocal Production was done by Shawn Da Ma$tamind Noel.
Although Mistah Shak has contributed music to the carnival seasons, he’s working on music which is not linked to festivals:
“If we want our music to reach to greater levels, we need to take the chance and start putting out good music all the time, at any time it feels right. There is no other genre of music in the world that is confined to being released depending on any particular festival or occasion. So this was just our attempt at putting out what we think is a good, timely song, dealing with a very serious, global,social issue.”
What can we expect in the near future? Mistah Shak is recording new tunes with his brother,”Da Ma$tamind”,”Octane” and Daryl Braxton. He and Duranty, founding members of “Surgeon Blade Panel”, are exploring ways to put an full album together.
The Burning Flames just won the Antiguan roadmarch title with “The harder dey come” and now it seems that the band has come to its end: The Antigua Sun and other papers reported that the band’s musical mastermind Oungku is preparing to quit. The Burning Flames is one of the oldest soca bands in the business.
For all of you who are seeking rare soca tunes from the “Small Islands”:
Check out the new MixCD by Jammer Collective – Small Island Invasion Vol.1. This very well done mix is a collection of soca gems from Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten & the Virgin Islands. 52 great tunes from the early 80s till now! The Collection was compiled by Bass (dancehallmusic.de) and mixed by Mudds (Constant Pressure SupaSoca/MashUpShow). Get it here.
Barbados Party Monarch 2005 is also this year’s roadmarch champion: Natalie Burke with “Colours”.
1. Natalie Burke & Shontell – Colours
2. Mr. DJ – Waist Line Shots
3. Lil Rick & Edwin Yearwood – Friends
The first ever Ragga Soca Monarch in Barbados is Lil’ Rick.
1. Lil Rick – Do Fa Do/Till Mornin’ Come
2. Lorenzo –Nice & Easy;
3. Donella – Death Trap
Da Bhaan’s Claudette “CP” Peters won this years Party Monarch competition in Antigua.
1. All I Know – Claudette Peters
2. Another Man – Nature Kid
3. Start de Carnival – Sleepy
[Full list of results of Antigua Carnival]
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