He can be called the new kid on the block, but certainly not a sky larker. Randy Joseph goes by the name of 8nine and he says he is all set to release his new album.
The youth dabbles in the rap music genre and is looking forward to a successful career as a St. Lucian star. He says he grew up on the influence of many international artistes, as well as his younger brother who is also a singer/song writer.
Joseph says the songs “Dear Lord” and “Miss My Girl” are the most highly favored tracks on the album. He says the album is currently available for sale and the tracks can be accessed via facebook.com and youtube.com.
Superman HD feat. Mr. Killa - Born 2 Mash Up
It’s not just the promise, “Everything gonna fall in here/everything gonna fall/ everything go mash up in here/ everything gonna fall” – it is also the music. Coiling around you like a snake – you are stomping, moving before you even know your body has been taken over by Superman HD and Mr Killa on this one called Born to Mash Up.
The song was written by Hollice “Mr Killa” Mapp who also played drums on the track – Kwency “Superman HD” Griffith and award winning songwriter Courtney “Curty” Louis. It also features snares by TJ Project drummer Gregory Emmanuel and production assistance from Dale St Juste.
Born to Mash Up is the power song you have called for all season. It is heady, addictive and will compel you to mash up and claim your soca destiny. Resting as you have been all season, patiently waiting, I sense you are ready to “Charge, flatten the place.” When you try to imagine the impact and force behind this power anthem - I want you to picture Defense and More Mash Up but cranked up to warp speed – superhero stratosphere.
Saint Lucia’s Superman HD and Grenadian Mr Killa have already proven they have the formula to move you from fete to road and on Born to Mash Up they take the charmed mastery they have over your body up another notch. You will surrender your senses, you will surrender your waist, foot, neck and every other body part because you understand “Something in here have to mash up” and they were Born to Mash Up on a path of total soca destruction
New 2K12 Power Soca Track "RELEASE DE KRAKEN" OFF THE "KRAKEN RIDDIM""
Qpid - Release De Kraken
Bourgeois and malaway, heed the Kraken’s call to “put the whole place flat.” In fact - “Please let me out/ I want to mash it up” is all the warning you will get from Q-Pid on Release the Kraken. She has been waiting and is in a soca rage because producer Courtney “Curty” Louis was fool enough to “raise the pressure gauge.” And for all those who think her time away from the stage cured her of the ability to “mash up this/ take down that” – she warns; “They say I caan mash up the stage again/ But I am ready/ they say how I mad and I not ashame/ But I am ready.”
The Kraken is a mythic beast that rises from the depths of the ocean. It is with that in mind that we ask you to release the soca beast that lies dormant in you, waiting for Carnival to unleash. Jonathan “Jay Budz” Mathurin provides background vocals and co-wrote Release the Kraken with award winning producer and songwriter Courtney “Curty” Louis who produced the track. It appears on the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music Kraken Riddim. If you believe that while groovy is nice it is power soca we need to get it good for Carnival then get ready to release your bacchanal with Release the Kraken
Ricky T,Mongstar,Ambi & Qpid - Chanting
Chanting required all hands on deck because as much as soca music is made for us to get it good, it too must sometimes have a message that is bigger than the song. It opens with a prayer from Grenadian soca King Mr Killa and Saint Lucian Soca King Ricky T who entreats “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want/cuz you know I am the Tizzle.” Soca artistes Ambi, Q-Pid and Mongstar from the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music arsenal also appear on Chanting. Produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis, everyone who appears helped write what is a song from the heart to the fans of soca music of Saint Lucia and the world. First Ambi tells us of the struggle, “dem seat around the table planning dem campaign/ now everybody happy drinking nuff champagne/ we seat down in de ghetto and we suffering/ they eating mac and cheese while we eating plantain” then Q-Pid speaks of the determination and focus “I try not to involve myself in certain things/but music is my heart, my soul, my everything/ but in this soca music there’s too much fighting/have to go down on my knees and I caan stop chanting.” Ricky T talks of the struggle which sometimes feel like it’s against all odds and Mongstar ends with real talk, “none of them want to unite so we fighting for our rights/ tell them music is a mission there’s no need for us to spite/ time to step up inna de light/move the darkness inna your life.” Just like the Kraken Riddim it rides – Chanting will not be controlled or tamed because “over there we chanting/ over so we chanting/ the rags keep on waving/ the bacchanal keep coming.”
D'SEAN - BORN BRAVE
D’Sean has been born again, Born Brave. Produced by award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis – Born Brave is written by Daesean Germaine and Marley James and is featured on the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music Kraken Riddim. This one is a pure mash up song. “Get ready for war/ soca monarch war/ dem getting de pressure/ we giving them more/ look de people dem jumping/ stomping on de floor”
Not wanting to take this journey alone, D’Sean says we are all “born ready/ born brave” for Carnival. Along with discovery comes this warning, “this Carnival we going to tear down this place.”
His voice is deep, commanding and manipulating the Kracken Riddim in a way that is designed to stir up frenzy wherever this one is heard. Picture it being presented on the majestic BCG stage where flags, revelers and pure bacchanal will demonstrate the true destruction of Born Brave. All the fetes and radio is just the warm up – we taking this one to the main battle grounds – so get ready to “not watch no face/we Born Brave.”
New 2K12 Soca Track "FILM A MOVIE"
Superman HD & Mr Killa - Film A Movie
Superman HD and Grenadian soca King Mr Killa are your directors. We will be shooting at several locations including fetes, clubs, and events; the action will culminate on the road. The actors are assembled based on location which will also determine the costumes.
It’s been quiet on the Saint Lucia Carnival set as all gets ready. But now its time for the two Directors who brought you Defense in 2010 and More Mash Up in 2011 to Film a Movie.
This collaborative effort had as its musical maestro Courtney “Curty” Louis who produced this one for the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music blueprint. In creating this melody, the award winning songwriter and producer teamed up with up two Saint Lucian drummers including Dale St Jules who also assisted in producing the final cut of Film a Movie.
The other drummer is Gregory Emmanuel, who plays with the TJ Project. This is not your usual, run of the mill power soca track – fused with the beats of drums you are warned from the very beginning that “We have a brand new style/it wicked and wild/ blockbuster style/look the camera there.” All players must also be aware that your ability to follow direction will determine if you are a lead or extra on this one so “When I tell you to go down I want you to whine and go down/when I tell you come up, I want you to whine come up/ when I tell you mash up I want you to mash it up/I want you to crash it, mash it up.” Brace yourself because despite all attempt at order – it is Carnival and your directors have proven that when it comes to mashing up they have no equal so quiet on set, roll tape, ACTION!...lets Film a Movie
New 2K12 Groovy Soca Track "RETURN OF BACHANAL"
Bachanal: the Return - New Groovy Release from Superman HD
If a single composition can capture the power and magic of a music-maker and his medium, this spellbinding new release from Mr Pringles - aka Superman HD – will launch Lucian mas' into a whole other dimension… somewhere up there, between fantastic flashback and breakthrough innovation.
This track has an immediate infectious appeal. It drums up ancestral rhythms from some sweet sacred place and conjures the kind of tribal energy which drives contemporary Caribbean carnival and embodies the saccharine sensuality of the groovy genre.
Bachanal: the Return is an evocative cocktail of powerful lyrics and charismatic melody. It’s chanting refrain and afro-rhythmic stylings invoke a hypnotic sweetness… an open-armed surrender… the savour lingers long after the lyrics end leaving you longing for more.
To that emotive energy, add an army of infectious drums, biting brass lines and Boo Hinkson’s high-life lead guitar, and you experience the kind of irresistible dance potential that is a fuse to body and soul, leaves no waist unturned, and makes you want to call home and tell them don’t wait up… ‘cause this ain’t endin’ any time soon.
With lyrics by Pringles himself, the Bachannal track was produced at Stratosphere Music Studio, composed and arranged by Courtney (Curty) Louis, with live percussion by Gregory Emmanuel (jr) and Hollice Mapp (aka Mr Killa), and artistic input from veteran mas’man Adrian Augier.
This latest release is yet another breakthrough from one of St. Lucian’s most versatile performing artists: one who already commands huge respect and audience appeal at the highest levels of competitive soca. If there was ever any doubt, Bachanal: the Return asserts Superman’s rightful claim to the Kingdom of Groovy. Pretenders to that throne will have to come good if they hope to challenge that authority.
New 2K12 SLU Carnival Groovy Track "Tabanka Riddim"
J Budz - Come Here
“Spend time with your woman” is the warning from J Budz – the Souf native who’s about to make a real play for the neglected girl-
friend of all those who “never know what you’ve got til it’s gone.” Written by Jonathan “J Budz” Mathurin, Come Here was produced by award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis. It is featured on the Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Tabanka Riddim for Saint Lucia Carnival 2012. He may be new to the soca stage but J Budz brings a sound and vibe that is as effortless as the majestic Pitons that shadowed him during his youth. And just like them, his message goes straight to the heart, “Trust me for a woman girl you real hot/ someone like you need love nonstop.” Ladies – Independent neglected ladies – the sistas whose man “go ah dance he nah take you/ when he with his friends he neglect you” this is your anthem for Carnival – cuz J Budz “have a whine in store” the one “you’ve been longing for” so Come Here
Q-Pid - Not To Take It On
Think of Not to Take it On as the sequel for two massive 2010 Groovy soca songs from Superman HD and Q-Pid. Written by Melissa “Q-Pid” Moses and Courtney “Curty” Louis, Not to Take it On is featured on the appropriately named Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Tabanka Riddim. Q-Pid delivers a simple mantra on this one to both men and women, “get if off your chest, yes/ Bacchanal no stress, yes/ Take a whine doh stress, yes.” While visiting with Pringles whose gros pwel led to begging outside a window, we also catch up with our old friend Ziki who admits her deed with the macaroni pie; not that it kept Bertie from leaving her for another woman. But it’s Carnival and you know what they say about a horn, so even though your woman, girl-friend, jabal and man give you stress, Not to Take It On.
New 2K12 SLU Power Soca Track "FIRE IN MEH"
Q-Pid feat. Shurwayne Winchester - Fire In Meh
Q-Pid has released two collaborations so far this year. Whine Up On Me featuring Marie-Anne and Shake which features Ricky T. Fire in Meh teams her up with Trinidad and Tobago soca superstar Shurwayne Winchester. The song is her first power soca release for Carnival 2012 and is a no holds barred declaration of Q-Pid’s return to the soca arena following a year long absence. “I’m back” she says in the opening verse that includes the lyrics “I got a heat in my feet/ Emergency/ Go call the Fire Chief/ Who tell them raise the fire in me/ Last year I miss Carnival/ so this year I coming hotter/ I coming to blaze the flame.”
Shurwayne was in Saint Lucia working on material when he heard the song and decided to add his firepower to it. Of Fire in Meh, he says, “it’s about a fusion where you actually collaborate evenly with an artiste from Saint Lucia who [is] doing a good job already. I’m just the added spice on that song but the song on its own is a great song.”
Fire in Meh was written by Courtney “Curty” Louis, Melissa “Q-Pid” Moses and Shurwayne Winchester; it is produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis for the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music blueprint.
New 2K12 SLU Carnival Groovy Tracks "Jiggle Riddim "
Mongstar - Piton
Piton on Da Jiggle riddim was written by Marley “Mongstar” James and Courtney “Curty” Louis. It was produced by Louis for Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music. Like Glo Ko Ko last year – Piton tells a story. It is one that starts at the Gros-Islet street party and pays homage to the majestic twin peaks that is Gros and Petit Piton as well as our iconic “la bierre Sent Lisi” Piton beer. A visitor has become besotted with Mongstar and the Piton, “she like how the Piton standing strong/ She like how the Piton tall and long/ She like how the Piton hard like brick.” She wants to groove on Jiggle all the way down south to climb the Pitons and whine. Luckily you don’t have to be a foreigner to appreciate this one whose music and message is as majestic as the voice on the track and the Pitons it pays whining homage to.
Ambi - Roll
There is a chant on this one that allows you to join the Joseph brothers on this soca romp called Roll. It is sang by Ambi but features background vocals from his older brother, soca King Ricky T.
Written by Ambroise Joseph, Daesean Germaine and Ricky Joseph, Roll is featured on the Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Da Jiggle Riddim that is produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis.
The song demonstrates that while it has only been two years since Ambi bust on the soca scene, he intends to continue building on what was a very solid 2011 where he placed fourth in the Groovy Soca Monarch.
He will stay for a while as they say – enjoying good vibes with the music he wants his fans to have. Roll is applicable whenever and wherever a session is taking place from a fete to the road, “If I whining on the highway and if I jamming in the J’ouvert/ I don’t care what nobody say I just come out to party.”
Marie-Anne - Text Buddy
Last year’s Black Cinderella wants you to be her text buddy. Marie-Anne is looking for a fling – one that will allow her to keep her boy-friend permanently in the dark.
Don’t call her she says, especially when these calls come at the most inconvenient times – instead “I want text/ I want text/ I want text.”
Featured on the Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Da Jiggle Riddim – Text is written and produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis.
This is a sexy romp – a harmless flirtation that allows you to see another side of the chameleon that is Marie-Anne.
A style reminiscent of soca powerhouse Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon – Text brings a bit of tongue in cheek naughtiness to the Carnival lineup. Instruction on how and where this should be done is clearly communicated so listen up and send me text.
Sergie - Why You Let Me Go
Meet Sergie, the first female to win the Piton Soca Starz competition – now into its third year. Hailing from Micoud – this diva from the East is putting soca on notice – she is here and ready to do battle.
Why You Let Me Go is written and produced by award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis. This one from the Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Da Jiggle Riddim sees Sergie flipping the gros pwel men always sing about getting from women on its head – turning her heartbreak into a new relationship, one that has the man who caused her pain missing her sugar and going crazy, he’s “watching it/ needing it” as she “whining up on her man/ your pressure rising.”
Sergie is new to the world of recorded music but her delivery on this track and her convincing win in the 2011 Piton Soca Starz competition makes it clear this is a world she was destined for. So don’t let her go – let the sweetness take you baby so you too won’t have to answer, Why You Let Me Go.
New 2K12 SLU Carnival Groovy Track "WIFE MATERIAL"
Qpid - Wife Material
“Doh feel no way/ I’m not gonna play/ Doh care what they say/I’m here to stay” – I’m your wifey; you’re my hussy – sweet Carnival this one is for you.
It only comes around once a year but no amount of love songs could be enough to express the joy and pleasure it brings. After all it was Q-Pid who sang, “nothing sweeter than Lucian Carnival” all these moons ago.
Wife Material was written by Melissa “Q-Pid” Moses and Courtney “Curty” Louis for the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Music label.
Touching on aspects of Carnival – it is also an ode to the First Lady in every man’s life –the wife material that remains steady, committed and determined to never “low rate” herself and her man, her warning to the horned men of Vaval, “Watch me whine and doh harass me.
” This is the third release from Q-Pid who has already dropped Whine Up on Me and Shake – the first featuring Marie-Anne and the second Ricky T. On this one the lady shines like the soca superstar she is – riding the music bed that was produced by Curty straight from the Bois D’Orange studio to our hearts.
New 2K12 SLU Carnival Tracks "The Mosquito Riddim RickyT "Mosquito"
Lemme see that/ that eh look like no mosquito mark/ look like you have a scratch on your back” is the chorus from the title song on the Courtney “Curty” Louis produced Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Mosquito Riddim. Ricky T is coming off a triumphant year where he won every major competitive prize in Carnival 2011.
He recorded Mosquito at the Stratosphere Music studios in Bois D’Orange for Carnival 2012. The song is written by Ricky Joseph and award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis. On Mosquito, Ricky T tells a tale of a hickey, one that starts at the end with his girl coming home late, telling him “doh get vex/ a mosquito that bite me whilst I walking up the steps.” He then retraces her steps from the time she left home to a foray by a restaurant and club – all caught by watchful eyes and photographic proof of her deception. Singing all the background vocals on this one and infusing his trademark take on the Creole that is part of our soul – Ricky T delivers nothing short of a gem with Mosquito
Sergie - Doh Tell Me Nutten
Sergie, the 2011 Piton Soca Starz winner has opened her 2012 Carnival season with a very clear message to all those who make it their business to mind the business of others.
On Doh Tell Me Nutten – written and produced by award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis – that message is clear – “leave people business alone/ go and mind your own.”
This is a female who is secure in her position and her man who provides her with all her needs including bling, house, clothing and even a Visa. Featured on the Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Mosquito Riddim – Doh Tell Me Nutten is destined to become the anthem for the strong, independent woman who knows her mind, man and is content with her business that well fix.
And her warning is no joke – cutting off all avenues to carry tales about her man, Sergie sings, “doh call me phone/ come at me home/ leave me alone” and in case you still aren’t clear, “doh send no text/ doh send no threat/ doh get me vex” and for good measure “no msn/ no BBM/ no NTN/ no Facebook/ no Twitter/ no picture.” So as Carnival coming and we are all destined to be everywhere getting it good – ladies now is the time to make sure all understand you love your man so “if the man a horn me/ doh tell me nothing/ if you see him with a woman” Doh Tell Me Nutten
Q-Pid & Ricky T "Shake"
The King of Saint Lucian soca has combined with the Soca Goddess to bring you Shake. Featured on the Courtney “Curty” Louis produced Dutch Productions/ Stratosphere Music Mosquito Riddim – it is the first time Ricky T has collaborated with a female soca artiste in this one designed to make you Shake. Here is just a sample from the reigning Groovy, Power and Road March King of Saint Lucia - “lemme see you whine up on it and shake/ lemme see you boggle pon it and shake.” Now picture Ricky T’s energy and Q-Pid after a year of keeping all that madness inside singing, “watch how we bumper shaking/ that faster than a lightning/ the soca have we feeling to wuk up.” Shake is written by Ricky Joseph and award winning songwriter and producer Courtney “Curty” Louis. You have to experience it to really get it so listen with your hips and your waist – allow them to rotate and meditate. The combination of these two soca forces and a producer who has long proved his mettle makes “the fire in we waist have we mashing up the place/ some people asking if we from out of space.” This is just a sample – there is more to come but take it as it is intended and Shake
