DJ Girish Kilogram introduced the soca sound to partygoers during the second edition of the Sky Festival in Afraa on April 12 through tracks by Trinidad and Tobago artiste Bunji Garlin. The Mumbai-based DJ is also set for a collaboration with Bunji. Girish decodes soca for t2.
Many of us may have heard soca fused with other genres, but your gig gave us a first-hand feel of what soca is all about: happy music perfect for a carnival. What is soca to you?
Soca was created out of calypso to be the Trinidad equivalent of what modern dancehall is to reggae... or what hip hop is to what disco music was. That is the basic idea. Soca is largely about carnival music where the artiste engages people. (Songs like JW & Blaze’s Palance and Mr Killa’s Rolly Polly.)
What did you make of the Calcutta response?
The people are open to different kinds of music. Right now it is one of the most happening cities in India and I have always enjoyed performing here. While introducing soca, I got a mixed response because it was something new. But people were jumping on the dance floor because of the simple yet unique lyrics, melody and fresh beats.
Did you discover soca on one of your tours?
In 2008, I got the chance to visit Florida (Orlando) where I performed at the Caribbean islands. That is where I got to know about the different soca styles: power soca, groovy soca, chutney soca.
I instantly felt connected with the beautiful lyrics, sweet melody and the groovy beats. It’s wonderful how this genre brings people together in a joyous manner.
Do you remember the first time you spun soca in India?
Back in the day (late ’90s-early 2000s) we played Hot Hot Hot by Arrow, Who Let The Dogs Out (Baha Men) and Kevin Lyttle’s Turn Me On, among others. We always had a humongous response.
As a DJ, does soca offer more scope for experimentation because of the wide BPM range?
Yes! It does offer more scope for experiment. The vocals and lyrics are extremely versatile, making it easier to blend with other genres, be it dubstep, EDM, hip hop, trap and so on.
How similar or different is the genre from reggae or hip hop?
Music is developed differently in the different parts of the Caribbean islands. For instance, soca is high-energy dance music, complete with brass instruments like trumpets trombones and percussion which are typical of soca, while reggae tilts towards soul with a lot more range of activities. There is so much fusion taking place that it is difficult to pinpoint. For instance, Alison Hinds’s Roll it Gal is not really soca but R&B with West Indian influence. Another example: Major Lazer feat. Sean Paul & Machel Montano’s One Wine. This just shows that there are no clear definitions.
How did the collaboration with Bunji Garlin come about?
I was in Cancun, Mexico, for a show when I played his hit singles Differentology, Carnival Tabanca and Our Time. Trust me, people went crazy and I immediately mailed him a clip from the show to share the response his songs got. Soon after, we spoke, along with our mutual friend Vanna Vee, about a collaboration –– the official remix of Our Time (by DJ G Kilogram, Hyacinth and Kiran Kamath) and a brand new movement in India called Bounce-Ind, a platform dedicated to hip hop and fusion music. It serves as a platform for DJs, singers, rappers, b-boys and producers to come together and bring a change in the music scene in India.
Any other artiste you look up to when it comes to this genre?
Some of my favourites include Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Machel Montano, Destra, Mr. Killa, KMC, Shurwayne Winchester... among others.
Finally, which is a better venue for soca –– club or open-air festivals?
Whether it is club or a concert, soca can make you sing and jump anywhere!
What is soca?
Soca stands for ‘Soul of Calypso’ which was popularised by Gary Blackman aka Lord Shorty aka Ras Shorty from Trinidad.
Different types of soca
Power soca where the music is really fast and the tempo is about 150 to 160 bpm. People usually jump, wave and move from side to side.
Groovy soca where the music is much slower, around 110 to 115 bpm. Artistes like Kevin Lyttle and Rupee have demonstrated the power of this category with international hits like Turn Me On and Tempted To Touch.
Ragga soca is fusion of dancehall and soca. Bunji Garlin falls in this category.
Chutney soca is an uptempo rhythmic song accompanied by musical instruments such as dholak, harmonium and tassa.
Listen up
If you wish to get a hang of this genre, listen to Diplo and Skrillex who fuse soca with a number genres. Also listen to Aba Luke and Machel Montano.
Who is Bunji Garlin?
He is a ragga soca artiste from Trinidad and Tobago.
He is a five-time winner of Trinidad’s International Soca Monarch title.
His track Brrrt features on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.
His collaborations Differentology, All Or Nothing, Jungle Bae, Our Time and Soca Bhangra make party peeps groove the world over.
Soca is high-energy party music; it’s about forgetting your troubles and having a good time. It’s also music which encourages dancing with a partner. We usually play soca towards the end of our sets when the party is at its peak and everyone is dancing. It is a natural progression from reggae and dancehall –– kind of like a musical cousin from Trinidad and Tobago rather than Jamaica
–– Reggae Rajahs specialises in dub, reggae and dancehall in which they also fuse a lot of soca
The music is so bouncy and groovy; it provides a nice build-up for your evening as one gradually moves to other genres like hip hop or trap or moombahton... it goes pretty well with all of them. I have been playing Bunji’s songs on loop ever since I first heard them. I am in love with All Or Nothing by Elliphant featuring Bunji Garlin and Diplo, and Carnival Tabanca by Bunji Garlin. I am playing these two tracks in my next set!
–– Rahul Indoria, Calcutta DJ
