10 Grenadian Soca Artists You Need To Know Right Now

Known as one of the Caribbean’s purest carnivals, Grenada’s renowned Spicemas is a global and local preserver of carnival tradition, history and music in the wider West Indian region.

Primarily centering soca music—groovy or powerful in its delivery—Grenadian soca often feels spiritual, linking to the island’s embrace of jab-jab culture, which harkens back to satirical displays of slavery, colonialism and classism amongst the proletariats and bourgeoisie.

Participating in the wider practice of Grenada’s iteration of jab-jab is not only an act of collective liberation but an embrace of the island, one’s own autonomy and history, and the beauty of the Caribbean as a whole. Soca star Dash’s 2019 single, “Generation Of Mas”, is a perfect articulation of Spicemas, jab-jab and their rich lineage atop the rampant meld of steel pans, drum percussion and trumpets that craft the soca production.

This year, as Spicemas publicly placed orders out to protect local music and the active soca acts on the ground, we highlight ten Grenadian soca artists who are essential for playlists or on the road across contemporary carnival seasons globally.

Terra D Governer

Winner of this year’s edition of the annual Power Soca competition, Terra D Governer embodies the spirit of carnival throughout his releases. This year, he churned out bonafide waist turners: the urgent “Zen Mode” instantly demands action on the dancefloor, while “Bag Of Sugar” is an undeniable communal anthem. During Spicemas’ peak, the latter cut was truly unavoidable; you couldn’t not wine or indulge in the euphoria of the track. Terra lives up to his name, acting as one of Greenz’s modern generals, commanding dancefloors, carnival routes, fetes and car journeys across the island and beyond.

V’ghn

V’ghn is a diligent and ubiquitous Grenadian artiste, with wide appeal across the island. Known for zest-induced tributes to soca, his musical releases often feel like an unapologetic embrace of the sound. “Soca Nice”, for example, is the perfect ode to the genre, making listeners instantly fall in love with the beauty in the sound and subtly learn about how the genre imparts itself in cultural practice across the West Indies.

His 2023 single, aptly-titled “Spicemas”, doubled down on the love of his country and its cultural practices. From the local references of Carenage—a region within Grenada—to the more relatable oil in pores after participating in jab-jab, “Spicemas” is a beautiful marriage of joy, yearning, and Tabanca—i.e. the sadness after a carnival season is done. The tune acts as a perfect reminder of what Spicemas is, of what Grenada is. It’s a reminder of how important West Indian culture is at large, and why aspects like Carnival should be protected.

Jab King

A refreshing brand of recklessness defines Jab King. This year, his addition to the Grenadian soca scene was the audacity that he brought to the genre and to the season. “High”, one of the most prolific releases of the year, is exactly its moniker, Jab King rebelling in letting go. Speaking to the looseness of soca, he perfectly encapsulates the fun associated with how unconventional soca is.

A mas-band favourite, Jab King’s “Chopping The Line” quickly made its way to Notting Hill’s edition of Carnival this year, too, emphasising its instant appeal and emphasising globalisation each and every year in soca music across the diaspora. Said track is a musical manifestation of how fast-paced it feels during carnival, physically getting through those seven to ten hours of pure adrenaline, sweat, movement, and community.

Tallpree

Tallpree, a dancehall and soca mainstay, is still able to translate the excitement and diligence for his craft for a modern audience of soca lovers. His 2023-released single, “Bad Jab” was a striking example of that. As emboldened as his performance of the track was at Power Soca Monarch in Grenada this year, “Bad Jab” is an instant classic that demands everyone’s attention. Tallpree is a commander of carnival communities, a seminal voice within this culture and tradition.

Valene Nedd

One of Grenada’s most visible contemporary soca and calypso singers, Valene Nedd continues to add a vibrancy to both sounds. The potency in her voice makes songs like “Find Yuh” immediately joyous and believable. Her accompanying visuals expand on the bounce of her songs, which are often centered around her community and real-life scenarios. Valene adds the magic to soca that sometimes feels missing; it relates back to the origins of the sound and of its forebearer, calypso. The Saint Andrews-based singer’s voice is able to carry the productions too, which isn’t easy to do with such a powerful genre stylistically.

Slatta

Known for his uber-vibrant productions in Grenadian soca, Slatta has been consistent not only across Spicemas 2023, but in his career to date. Often focused on jab, he also traverses the realms of romance in his wider discography, allowing his music to have global potential. Still, his edition of the Slam Bang riddim-infused “Wet Her Down” is an ode to women and wining culture amongst carnival. Slatta has continued to infuse cinematic visuals across his releases this year, adding a dynamic appeal to his artistic offering. “Jab Man Ting”, for example, acts as a strong visual marker of the feeling that a Grenadian jab-jab experience will provide.

Boyzie

Participating in both the Groovy and Power soca competitions at Soca Monarch, Boyzie is universal in his offering of the sound. From “Little Piece”, his latest single—a quieter brand of soca—to the abrupt, bass-heavy “Super Sian Riddim” he utilised for “Backerz”, Boyzie is diligent but also resourceful in his craftsmanship as a soca artiste. As he continues to navigate through the industry, his multi-generational audience will only continue to grow, fete by fete.

Robulous

“D Farmer” was a hit across this year’s Grenadaian carnival season, so much so that Robulous blazed the Soca Monarch’s Power Edition with a theatrical performance of the track for hundreds of residents in the lead-up to Carnival. Local in its feel and topic focus, “D Farmer” doesn’t do too much in its construction—it just provides a seamless piece of soca that acts as an earworm for you to move your waist to. Hopefully, Robulous will continue to provide staples in this arena for 2024 (and beyond).

Lednek

Lednek adds a self-embracing element to soca and his wider artistry. Songs like “Feeling Too Fly” allow you to feel confident on the road and get lost in your own flair, whilst “Doh Get Trick” and “Ppl Business” leans into Lednek's bravado to provide humour and realism to his audience, making his iteration of soca relatable to everyday occurrences. With the latter, he fights back against external judgment and warns of cussing out anyone who oversteps boundaries. Lednek has all the components to continue being a staple within the Grenadian landscape, and as his recent bookings in Canada showcase, he has the potential to take this thing global.

Temptress

Another act leaning into Grenada’s wide embrace of jab-jab, Temptress’ “Toot Toot” is a perfect amalgamation of a single that pushes and urges the feet to move whilst seamlessly teaching those about items like horns and conch shells, which are very much present during the practice. Even in Temptress’ cadence and crooning, she sounds immersed in soca hypnosis, a vessel for everyone’s enjoyment and catharsis. The soca scene is lucky to have her in its corner.