What I'm Listening To: Audio/Visual

 

'Hold On' by Dezarie Phoenix [Dezarie]

Okay so, we have a couple of ANVILS this week and the first up is from someone who many would already deem a legend, the great Dezarie (who is, apparently, going by Dezarie Phoenix these days), who has struck with her first video clip EVER for the song 'Hold On'. The songs ranks as one of the biggest winners from her 2025 set, "Guardian". I actually remember a couple of other VI standouts, Vaughn Benjamin & Ras Batch, going fairly deep into their careers as well before doing a music video, so perhaps this comes as no surprise. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding its creation, the visual side of 'Hold On', unsurprisingly, matches the beauty of its audio. It's an amazing song with an amazing video from a very powerful human being.

'We Are One' by Arkaingelle & Fyahstone [Saj Moor Dub]

Next in is another big winner, courtesy a pair of old favourites of ours. The next [regular] review you'll read on these pages (there's an irregular one coming ahead of that) features work by Guyanese chanter, Arkaingelle who, as I have mentioned in the past, once made one of the greatest songs I have ever heard in my entire life (I'll remind you of that in the review). Now, Arkaingelle links up with a producer that we're well familiar with from out of Morocco by the name of Saj Moor Dub. You may recall his work on a label by the name of West Coast Studios, specifically (PROBABLY), with Ras Attitude. Back in 2014, WCS would set out the LOVELY Kif Kaf Riddim which would include offerings from the likes of Attitude, Perfect Giddimani and even Ras Indio. Also on the Kif Kaf was a tune called 'Rastaman Ah Chant' ["Kill dem wid di love, light shine so bright. Nyabinghi, no time fi no rewrite"].... from Arkaingelle, so this isn't the first time artist and producer have worked together and it doesn't sound like it from the level of musical chemistry we hear on 'We Are One'. Also present is gifted Trini veteran Fyahstone, with whom you are probably most likely to be familiar via his fairly recent work with Lion's Flow Productions, however (small world), about a decade ago, Fyahstone and the Arkaingelle made a song together by the name of 'Lion Can't Cool' so, again, to the surprise of absolutely no one given how well they sound together, the two vocalists on 'We Are One' also have some history with one another. Hopefully all three have some future together as well as 'We Are One' is excellent. 

"We are all children of The Most High

Put away your sadness, don't cry

So stand up tall, be wise and use your third eye

Rastafari go before I"

The song is a unity piece and I do these things and attempt to place meaning into words but, delightfully, that is done for us here. Watch the video to the end and you will see the lovely message at its end. Hopefully there is much more activity from Saj Moor Dub as the maestro has relocated to California and placing himself amongst all of the seemingly never-ending Reggae activity in the area.

'Fling It Up' featuring Davido by Machel Montano [Monk Music]

Didn't take very long to get into the visuals for Machel Montano's 'Fling It Up' (which are exactly what you would expect them to be) before I... suddenly had no problem with it, despite it seeming quite random.The tune is probably coming up on completing its first year in existence and here's a video! Why? Who cares! The actual song, which features Davido, is CANDY, it is GORGEOUS Groovy Soca with a little KICK to it (check the surge about two minutes in) and from, arguably, still the biggest single name in the genre and on his own Monk Music label.

'Ginger' by Sean Paul [Dutty Rock Production]

Dancehall superstar, Sean Paul, may have a legit hit on his hands courtesy of his new tune, 'Ginger', which is outstanding and very OPEN as is Paul's tendency (at his absolute best, he's capable of making songs which fit entirely in Dancehall but are as accessible as anything that you will hear). 'Ginger' isn't quite there but I do expect it do some real damage. The video? The video for 'Ginger' is Ai'd to the gills and make no mistake about it: This video is creepy as hell.

'We Da Do It' by Boyzie [Wetty Beatz]

And lastly this week is a tune that is, easily, amongst the finest that I've heard from Soca in all of 2025, the delightfully over-chaotic 'We Da Do It' by Grenadian supernova, Boyzie. I've said it many times before, Boyzie is one of the 'best kept secrets' in all of Soca and that isn't true from the standpoint of actual fans of the genre but if you're more on the casual side, it's fairly likely, in my opinion, that you probably don't know who he is at all. Be that the case, now is a PERFECT time to become acquainted as he drops one of his finest efforts in years with 'We Da Do It'. Great workout song. 

{Note: I don't know which label actually released this song. I know WB was involved, so I gave them the credit. Thank you and have a nice day}

Spice MAD 2024

Okay so, in case you did not pay any attention (and you probably did not) to the Carnival season in Grenada this year, I just wanted to let you know that you screwed up. You made a mistake, but I still love you and I have your back. Spice Mas this year produced some TRULY big tunes and, because your missed out, I thought that we'd catch you up on some of the biggest of them all from some of the island's (and Soca's, in general) most talented stars. Here is a very brief look back at one of the best seasons of music that Grenada has had, in my opinion, in quite a few years: Spice Mas 2024.

'Sweet Home' by Boyzie

First up is a tune that actually took home some hardware this year as someone who I've always wanted to spend more time talking about (going to have two opportunities today and the that was a pretty large part of the motivation to do this feature) did what he always does and scored a big hit that would net him his second consecutive Groovy Monarch crown in Grenada. The ever-talented "Mad Ras", Boyzie, charted with delightfully patriotic 'Sweet Home' via the Oil Down & Saraca Riddim from Xpert Productions. Boyzie may not be as heavily appreciated in the genre at its highest levels that his gifts would seem to merit (the man can literally do it all) as is evidenced by this song contrasted to the very next one that I'm going to tell you about. That being said, however, if you are fortunate to know who he is and have heard his work, you know exactly the flame that burns there. 'Sweet Home' was a tune like many that you've heard before, giving honour to the most beautiful region on the planet, but it has RARELY sounded this sweet and it came through absolutely effortlessly from a genuine reigning master of the genre.

'Chaotic' by Boyzie

To my opinion, Boyzie is even better in the Power category of Soca music and although he wouldn't take home the Power Monarch win this year (gonna tell you who did win it in just a minute), the multiple time Power champion (personal favourite of mine being 'Mas Everywhere' from about a decade ago) (I could name about five others on that same level, easy) ["CALL THE AMBULANCE! CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE!"] did show up in a major way with the HUGE 'Chaotic'. This tune is exactly what you want from a powerful modern Soca track. It's addictive. It's emotional. It's kinda pissed off at something and it displays all of that while MAINTAINING A MELODY. You can jump up to 'Chaotic' you can... take your clothes off (or someone else's). You can do a variety of stuff which may or may not be very important at all and that is the point: There is no point. It is a celebration of a feeling and if you feel have something on your mind that you're looking to burn off, 2024, as a whole, produced very few finer moments than 'Chaotic'.

"THEY FEEL LIKE I JOKING WITH THEM, WHEN I CATCH THEM IT'S OVER!"

'Different Levels' by Tallpree

Of course, it wouldn't count as an actual trip to Greenz without checking in on the incomparable Tallpree. This season the veteran mined DIAMONDS with his big tune, 'Different Levels', which (by the slightest of margins), was my favourite overall from Spice Mas 2024. To my opinion, there's a certain sound that Grenada Soca has. It is not refined AT ALL (Machel Montano and Destra you will not find) but there's kind of this GORGEOUSLY rugged sound at the core of its appeal and charm (think of people like Lavaman (whose tune I may or may not put in here and Lednek). If you want a perfect example of that, listen to 'Different Levels'. 'Different Levels' is FILTHY. It's intoxicating. It's beautiful and for someone like Tallpree, who has spent AGES making big tunes, it's one of the best he's done in recent times.... at least.

I wanted to come back and mention that though I lack the musical... technical knowledge to describe it - There is one part of 'Different Levels' that just makes it downright MAGICAL. I think it is a keyboard sound it's the one that you hear constantly but it isn't necessarily LOUD and it often gets overpowered. THAT! Whatever the hell THAT is.... DAMN! 

'Not From Here' by Lavaman

Biggup Travis World, the mastermind (biggup Mastermind) Lavaman's very cool 'Not From Here'. There's a BOUNCE behind this tune (you can hear it right at the beginning and then it remains back there) which almost gives 'Not From Here' an old school Dancehall sound and then laid atop it is this stunning tropical blend which professional chaos creator, Lavaman uses to OFFICIALLY declare something that we've all known for years: He ain't like the rest of us.

'The Tape' by Dash

Lastly, the big winner of Spice Mas 2024 was Dash who captured both the Power Soca Monarch title as well as Road March and did so on the strength of the same tune.

"About four o'clock in di morning, I hear my door knock and I'm wondering who's that

'WE HAVE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST!'

I SAY, 'WHO ME?'

HE SAY 'YES!'

Are you sure?

Yes it's you

What I do?

HE SAY 'MASH UP PEOPLE PARTY AND THE VENUE!'

Man ah steups and ah sigh

Since when that is a crime?

Evidence build up high

They say 'the tape it doesn't lie!'"

Dash comes from the same school of making Soca as the great Bunji Garlin. HIGHLY lyrical he produces these GEMS and although I was surprised by the success that 'The Tape' would net him, it was because of the style of the tune. It does not SOUND like a Power Monarch winner or a Road March.... BUT IT IS LETHAL.