Music: Top Five 2016 Bouyon Releases

Today is officially Bouyon Day in my beloved Dominica. Congratulations to all the artist past and present that have contributed to this sound!

You smell that in the air? That my friends is the smell of Carnival season taking over all the new year blues. And in my beloved Dominica this is when the residents are flooded via the airwaves with music. Now it would be nice if more music was released throughout the year, but I'll leave that for another post. 

After the natural disaster which was hurricane Erica that caused many festivities for Independence Day cancelled, this carnival is going to be well deserved and needed for the island. And with that comes the Bouyon releases that have been created to potentially be the anthem of the roads and the season. So here are my five jams for Dominica carnival 2016.

5. Carlyn XP - Bouyon Wuk

First of all I think Carlyn is a little hottie, and it just so happens she can rock a stage and make good music aswell. From being with Fanatik band to adding the female touch with Original Bouyon Pioneers, Miss Carlyn XP is known as the queen of Bouyon. And now it's official she is the first and the newly crowned Bouyon Monarch winner. It's no surprise this banger contributed to her winning that title, this has all the ingredients needed to make a Bouyon track that pumps. 

4. Asa Bantan - Take It Anywhere 

Asa Bantan always comes with a song that you can rock too. Strictly Local was one of my favourite releases of last year and overall Bouyon releases. This one right here my only qualm I have with it is it's too damn short, other than that Asa trust me I can relate to this one personally!!

3. Benz - Circle

"Nothing nah change, I'm still same big up my friends, me and my crew we still rolling"........ This jam is produced by the kid DJ Bryce (who makes some banging beats, but plays tight sharing them for promo damn shame). Big up Benz on this one as this is no joke and should be pumping throughout Carnival and beyond.

2. Original Bouyon Pioneers ft Kurt Allen - Jamin'

This one is just straight throwback not just Thursday but years. The OBP have crafted something that will long out last this carnival and will continue to be rocking in the future. It's got everything that made Bouyon have it's own lane and what we all love about the genre, the bridge on this song is so smooth, sick and cultural. With these guys hitting the road this carnival, I hope the new generation appreciate what they're about to witness.

1. WCK - Jus Do

We've had four releases from CK this year "Colossal (Biggest Fete)", "Bouyon To The World", "Rolling Like A Boss" and this one "Jus Do"lead by Mr.Delly. This song is just a straight monster, which is making it even harder to miss this year's val as I would behaving the worst when this comes on. But then I guys that's God's way of protecting the ladies bumpers and I have to respect that...

The Day Of Happiness #HappySoundsLike

I saw this article in the Metro and I had to get involved. The United Nations began The Day Of Happiness in 2012. Reason being the UN believes "the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal".  The UN have enlisted the likes of John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Charlie XCX and more to create the "World's Happiest Playlist" for tomorrow. 

So far John Legend has chosen Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up", Ed Sheeran has selected "Independent Woman" by Beyonce and them, even the UN's secretary Ban Ki-moon has given us "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by the great Stevie Wonder. The project is being put together by streaming service MixRadio.

Everyone can get involved and share their playlist via MixRadio using the hashtag #HappySoundsLike. So below are five songs I listen to at least once a week and get me nice, no matter what has happened with Manchester United results or the British weather. In no particular order:

Music: My favourite Five(ish) Bouyon tracks for Carnival 2015.

Once Christmas Day has been and gone in Dominica, it's fully Carnival mode. And with that comes the onslaught of the island's musicians in the kitchen cooking that good 'ol Bouyon music, with the ambition of being the anthem for the Carnival. The levels and quality of the music coming out of Dominica this year is at an all time high, with the collaborations from artists outside of the island getting involved. That is only a good thing for the genre moving forward. 

Even though I'm all the way in London, I still get excited for the new releases like I did when I was living on Great Marlborough Street. So this year I've decided besides just posting and helping promote the Bouyon sound from my side of the ocean, I'll do my top five favourite songs for Mas Domnik! So with that said lets get into it:

5. Benz Mr.Gwada - Carnival


4. Nayee x Ricky T - Whole Day


3. Triple Kay x Mr.Killa - Lock De Gate/Asa Bantan - Strictly Local



2. WCK - Free Me Up/Skin To Skin 


1. The Original Pioneers Of Bouyon - Characters

Music: WCK x Nayee - De Band Coming

The second of the two new releases from yesterday. This one sees CK and former CK member (He's still part of the band in my eyes) Nayee link up for De Band Coming. Can check out the previous three releases Skin To Skin, One Life To Live, Free Me Up.

Music: WCK - Free Me Up

This is one of the two new releases CK dropped last night. More heat for your murrrr, free me up!

Music: WCK - Skin To Skin

Second release from the WCK band, is this nice groovy number called Skin To Skin.

Music: WCK - One Life To Live

Continuing with the roll out of tracks to be the soundtrack for Mas Dominik 2015. Here is one of two tracks released by the WCK Band.  

Music: This Is Bouyon Documentary

"Aye Drizzy, what's that music you always playing when working out in the gym?" Couple of my boys used to ask me that, as the music was blasting through my headphones. 

Now I ain't mad at people who say is that Soca? Because they don't know better, so I have no problem explaining my culture and what we bring to the music scene. Some people always assume when I say Dominica, that I'm talking about Dominica Republic. 

Thanks to the talented Mr. Garford Alexander who captured it all on camera, Bouyon is explained by many people who've worked to put Bouyon on the map - and the new generation making their own imprint on the sound.

Ladies and gentlemen this music was the soundtrack to my childhood growing up in the nature isle of the Caribbean Dominica. Hence why I play it on my show because of my close connection to it. Hope you enjoy this nice insight into Bouyon music........

Documentary: What Is Bouyon?

Last week's show played some new tracks that will cause damage at Dominica's carnival this February. This time of year the island gets ready for another blow out party 20x more hyper than London's Notting Hill Carnival. Some people hit me up on the iMessage and BBM to ask me what was the Soca music I played called. 

Explained to them that it's not Soca but contains an element of Soca aswell as many other components which makes the sound called Bouyon. I was exposed to this sound when I moved to Dominica back in the early 90s. I always find time in my day our week to reminisce on some classics and vibes to the latest releases. 

So here is a documentary on the sound Bouyon created in Dominica by the one and only Rah formerly part of the pioneers of Bouyon music WCK. Welcome to BOUYON!!!!