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Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca — your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.
The Elevate Riddim arrives just in time to set the tone for the new year, and first up is a familiar voice: Aisha Noel. I remember her earliest steps into the Soca arena—including that Sunday afternoon when Mr. Desmond gave her debut track a spin on WACK Radio. Since then, she has grown steadily into her artistry, balancing life between Trinidad and Tobago and her “home away from home,” Jamaica, while keeping her creative heart firmly rooted in T&T.
Aisha penned “Touch.” Unity and human connection sit at the center of this song, expressed through lines like “One blood, one race, one humanity” and “I feel when you touch, touch, touch.” The message is unmistakable: love, togetherness, shared energy, and the simple joy of human contact—all pillars of the Carnival spirit. If that didn’t hit you on the first listen, try again with the music stripped away in your mind. Too often we get caught up in the rhythm and miss the intention behind the words.
Musically, the track delivers an energetic, uplifting feel, built for movement and festival momentum. Her diction is a bit challenging in places, but the overall vibe still lands with brightness and purpose. Having said that, this is the song that takes this Riddim.
Here’s the real hurdle: breaking into steady radio rotation. This song will need a coordinated push—strong social media promotion, playlist visibility, and consistent support from her management team. This isn’t a knock on the song; it’s simply the reality of the landscape. Warmth, positivity, and messages of shared humanity are at the core of our music, but without name recognition, radio will look the other way.
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music because doing so denies essential revenue to songwriters, producers, and artists. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Touch
Artist/Performed by: Aisha Noel x DJ Private Ryan
Album Title: Elevate Riddim
Written by Aisha Noel
Produced by: Battalion Music
Co-produced by: Badjohn Republic.
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Soca ?
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Elevate: All That Talent… and Still Just Another Soca Song
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
January 23, 2026
This post first appeared on Sokah2Soca, where Caribbean music meets wit, rhythm, and real talk. Island Vybe Radio spins the tunes—we decode the culture.
The title track of the Elevate Riddim should have been the moment—the big lift, the defining statement—especially with Machel Montano and Nailah Blackman at the forefront. Instead, “Elevate” arrives as a reminder that more hands in the kitchen don’t always make a better dish.
This single brings together a long list of contributors: Private Ryan, Machel, Nailah, Badjohn Republic, and The KVG. DJ Private Ryan oversaw the production, and Badjohn Republic, The KVG, Trini Baby, and Machel Montano co-produced. That’s already a crowd, and the writing credits stretch even further—Bjorn Graham, Aisha Noel, Ryan Alexander, Kyle Phillips, Vernice Herreira, Machel, and Nailah. Add in guitars and bass from Kyle Peters, background vocals from Bjorn Graham and Aisha Noel, recordings done in both Trinidad and Jamaica, and final mixing and mastering by Precision Productions.
On paper, it reads like a super‑team. In reality, it sounds like just another Soca release.
Despite the impressive talent involved, the track fails to surpass its individual components. It’s clean, polished, and Carnival‑ready, but not memorable—not the standout moment a title track should be. Sometimes, the more people you add to a project, the more the core idea gets diluted. “Elevate” is proof.
A solid effort, yes. A special one? No. C’est la vie.
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music because doing so denies essential revenue to songwriters, producers, and artists. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Elevate
Artists/Performed by: Private Ryan, Machel Montano, Nailah Blackman, Badjohn Republic, The KVG
Produced by: Dj Private Ryan
Co-Produced by: Badjohn Republic, The KVG, Trini Baby, Machel Montano
Writers—Bjorn Graham, Aisha Noel, Ryan Alexander, Kyle Phillips, Vernice Herreira, Machel Montano & Nailah Blackman
Guitars & Bass - Kyle Peters
Background Vocals—Bjorn Graham, Aisha Noel
Background vocals recorded by Jhaye "Jaydot" McKie, Trinidad & Damage Musiq, Jamaica.
Mixed and mastered by: Precision Productions.
Lyric video: Move With Time
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Soca ?
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca — your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.
The next track on the Elevate Riddim is “Rum Letter,” written by Sekon Sta and performed by Sekon Sta and Waddicks. Produced by DJ Private Ryan for Battalion Music and co‑produced by Badjohn Republic, the song arrives with an energetic, upbeat tempo—but the concept itself is a hard sell.
Honestly, who writes a rum letter? Lamenting the rising price of rum isn’t the strongest showcase of songwriting skill, even with Carnival’s influence on creative choices. The hook about a “rum letter coming from a fetter” and rum making things “better” is simply not a message I can support. The track also leans on the repeated line “We don’t give up,” adding a touch of perseverance, but it doesn’t shift the overall tone.
Musically, the production is commendable, as it is lively, bright, and designed for movement, but lyrically, it falls short. This will be a Carnival 2026 moment, and thereafter, it’s unlikely to be heard again, if it even gets much rotation during the season.
Indeed, it was a spirited delivery. However, it is unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music because doing so denies essential revenue to songwriters, producers, and artists. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Rum Letter
Artist/Performed by: Sekon Sta & Wadicks x Dj Private Ryan
Album Title: Elevate Riddim
Written by Sekon Sta
Produced by: Battalion Music
Co Produced by Badjohn Republic
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Soca ?
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
This post first appeared on Sokah2Soca, where Caribbean music meets wit, rhythm, and real talk. Island Vybe Radio spins the tunes—we decode the culture.
Happy New Year from all of us at Sokah2Soca. As we step into 2026 and look ahead to the excitement of Carnival, we want to start the season with joy, rhythm, and a reminder of what Caribbean music does best—lift spirits, move bodies, and bring people together. This session is our way of telling you: have a fun, fearless, music‑filled New Year, and may Carnival 2026 meet you with nothing but good energy and good company.
Notes from the Band:
From the first count to the final note, Full Blown takes over Rhythm Sessions with a sound that refuses to sit still. Captured live with Boom Boom Room TT at Songhai Studio, this session is pure fire with rhythm driving from the ground up and energy that spills well beyond the camera.
This is Caribbean music in motion—celebratory, commanding and built to move people. A reminder of what happens when musicians lock in and let the groove lead the way.
Thanks to TSZ – The Security Zone Ltd.—for making this project possible.
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music because doing so denies essential revenue to songwriters, producers, and artists. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Full Blown x Boom Boom Room TT - Rhythm Sessions
Song: Respectfully Yours
Artist/Performed by: Full Blown
Percussion—Boom Boom Room TT (Rhys Thompson & Modupe Onilu)
Recording Engineer—Songhai Studios (Konata Alleyne)
Mixed - Dj JLava (Johann Joseph)
Videography—Millennial Studios (Rhyjell Ellis)
Producer - Rocke Solid Entertainment (Aaron Rocke)
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Soca ?
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
