This month’s listening picks from the Caribbean — with commentary from Nigel Campbell on new music from Angela Hunte; Coutain & Dwala; D-Achee; and Juss Lizz
Angela Hunt
Mángó (Self Released)
Grammy-winning Trinidadian-American singer Angela Hunte has released a new album that deftly incorporates the rhythms and tropes of most of the hippest music from the African diaspora: soca, hip-hop, reggae/dancehall, gospel, soul , reggaeton, and Afrobeats. It’s not too much – just enough to please listeners without overwhelming them. The artist collaborations work effectively to distinguish this album as a potential hit maker and a benchmark for how Caribbean music can be packaged for use outside of the usual island-in-the-metropolis set. The title track, a duet with Wyclef Jean, bubbles with a zouk flavor that makes dancing inevitable, while Fay-Ann Lyons makes the pop-power soca duet “Gelato” work with her incredible lyrical flow. Other collaborators – Yemi Alade, Tarrus Riley and rising reggaeton star Christian Alicea – add to the holistic package that delivers on the promise of growing New World African music. Magnificent!
Coutain & Dwala
1996 (Form & Order)
In the few years that singer (Denzil) Coutain has been on the scene, he’s honed his songwriting around narratives that show a keen ear for what sounds like youthful ennui and seductive escapism, and this album marks a climb toward a presence global. With the help of London/Trinidad-based sound artist and producer Dwala, the singer’s laid-back vocal sound works well with the sultry calypso, reggae/dub, R&B/soul beats and the producer’s smooth harmonic profiles. Electric piano and saxophone seamlessly enhance the melodies, while the low mood shows another side of the Caribbean. Coutain sings of his wife’s life and adoration, defining intimacy and describing love. Listeners become part of conversations that adults always have behind closed doors. This collaboration shows how island beats are finding favor with a new generation streaming the music world. Sublime and edgy.
D-Achee
You are my champion (Music Avenue) • Single
Master percussionist D-Achee has created a festive anthem of joy and upliftment. With 120 beats per minute and a ringing West African rhythm on the guitar, this music crosses the Black Atlantic in groove and inspiration. He sings Everyone wants to know if you come from Africa or Brazil as a challenge to the consciousness of black people in America. A stack of hand drums, drumsticks, gourds and metal percussion runs beneath lyrics that affirm a life of conscious positivity: So enjoy your life to the fullest / Don’t listen to the rumors they spread / ’cause I’m not your enemy. Both in the intro and the bridge, polyrhythms – with the pulse of Africa and the DNA of the Caribbean – resonate. The song effectively delivers the simple idea of punchy sounds that inspire listeners to rise in spirit and into action — and it just might inspire many an energetic TikTok dance video after a couple listens.
Law Lizz
Blue Moon (self-released) • Single
Once in a blue moon, you will find what you are worth. This is the refrain Juss Lizz sings on her smooth R&B/island groove that’s a confidence booster for an insecure soul. The mood is sensual, the message is inspiring. She has stated about her composition process that, “I sing songs that I would like to listen to when I’m feeling down… When I write music, I’m giving off that vibe. I don’t want to make music that allows people to go back to that state of sadness.” And this tune accomplishes that. This young Trinidadian burst out of MusicTT’s 2021 Spotlight program and has the potential to reach an even wider audience as she sings and performs with a confidence that belies that she can sometimes “feel bad”. A new generation of singers in the Caribbean is pursuing the tropes of a modern R&B that emphasizes self-reflection and honesty with a beat that doesn’t sprint. This is a self-love song worthy of repeat.
