This month’s listening picks from the Caribbean — featuring reviews by Nigel Campbell of new music by Nessa Preppy; Jimmy October; Sabrina Francis; and Teddyson John
Nessa Preppy
Little Miss Arima (self-released)
Nessa Preppy, a chameleon among soca’s leading ladies, presents a new album that encompasses new music, with enough tunes to extend the currency of the album beyond one Trinidad Carnival cycle. The 14 tunes range from soca to island pop — fused with dancehall, chill Afrobeats, and the newest iterations of Trini zess music. Bookended by two potential hits outside of the mas’ (“Or You Don’t”, an ultimatum to a lover; and “Blessings”, a confident self-affirmation), this album suggests following the herd with one season of songs is not on her radar. Her airy, childlike vocals are juxtaposed with lyrics that speak of carnal desires, offering a proud female perspective on behaviour and body image — both inside and outside Carnival. Well-produced collaborations with local stars from various island genres — M1, Lady Lava, Jahllano, V’ghn, Freetown, and Yung Bredda — give a hint at the breadth of influences on tap. Island vibes for global ears.
Jimmy October
From October with Love (Ineffable Records)
Jimmy October some years ago defined his work as “new calypso”, a reckoning with the still nascent possibilities of original Trinidad music and celebration of a new way of being: familiar here, appealing there. On his new EP, this continuing exercise in songcraft has yielded 23 minutes of Caribbean music that burns with ambition to break down the barriers to international success. A pair of Trinidadian producers, Brooklyn Decent and Tano, guide the EP in a direction that recognises the modern pop world is moving toward “ethnic” percussion and tropical loops that don’t “challenge” listeners and dancers. Sly lyrics define desire, but aren’t crude — playing instead to our island appreciation for double entendre. The EP closer, “Romance”, hints at Latin American vibes — both in the lyrics about a hopeful liaison with a Spanish-speaking beauty, and guitar that mimics Carlos Santana on electric and acoustic guitar. ¡Me gusta!
Sabrina Francis
Limbo (self-released) • Single
There seems to be a new trend of female singers giving ultimatums to their lovers, but not going the extra step of just calling it off, once and for all. Grenadian songbird Sabrina Francis sings: I’m in a bind, should I go or stay with you / Tell me what you find, ‘cause my heart’s been torn in two / I’m in a limbo, and I don’t know what to do. How many chances can a guy get to break a heart? That question looks like a dilemma that resonates with audiences worldwide. The warning that follows (If you don’t say something, watch me as I go) may seem like a final resolution, but the song is a cautious affirmation: don’t be taken for granted. “Limbo” speaks to young and old, naïve and experienced, with lyrics that tell a universal story of second chances being better than none, while a wicked slow tropical groove percolates. The message — one which says there is always a way back home, and “you know where to find me” — can play on forever. Island love lives in hope.
Teddyson John
Thank Me Later (self-released) • Single
Soca music often has a generic music riddim and lyric template that usually get the job done (making many dance during carnival celebrations — whether on the road or at a party). But sometimes, an artist or song can stand out — a rare outlier birthed in the maelstrom of Trinidad Carnival rhythms that lives far beyond a singular season or solitary moment in one year. St Lucian soca ambassador Teddyson John has produced a single here that has the markings of another long-lasting hit he can transform (post-Carnival) into the smooth jazzy covers that have given him a second life — and almost a second career. Its lyrics speak to situations beyond the festival niche, making this song work in many performance settings. Its melody veers away from the mediocre, while an iron band rhythm, a unique steelpan solo, and harmony using more than three chords all make this song sparkle in and out of the season. Yes, you will thank him later.