Catch Up On Your Soca: Top 10 2019 Trinidad Soca Riddims Released by Christmas Day

Credit: Josh Brizan | Trinidad and Tobago

*Please note this article was published Dec. 25. 2108*

Historically, soca music for the upcoming year is often released in the fourth quarter of the year, months before Trinidad Carnival, giving people enough time to get accustomed to the music and get ready for the road. On one hand, some soca riddims (instrumentals) are released and reveal one main song, on the other hand, there are riddims that are released revealing multiple songs.

Masqueraders and those of us who keep up with the newly released music often have an idea of what songs would likely be played the most at the fetes or on the road, and go on to win Trinidad’s annual Road March competition (which tracks the songs played the most on the road at different judging stations along the designated route in Port of Spain, Trinidad). But soca lovers are often surprised by the songs that are released post-Boxing Day (Dec. 26), “late” a.k.a closer to Carnival, the songs that went overlooked on first listen, and the songs that went underestimated.

While soca music is arguably described as a seasonal genre, the genre has expanded globally, and so has the diaspora. There are multiple Carnivals held annually during the year in different islands, countries, and major cities. This has provided a space for artists to release songs throughout the year depending on the specific Carnival they may be preparing for. This growth has ultimately created an environment where soca junkies can be exposed to different cultures while they get their dose of soca music all year round.

Some people may be wondering if soca junkies ever get tired of soca music, or if we actually like every soca tune released. I personally do not ever get tired of listening to soca music, but I also do not favorite every tune released. I believe us soca lovers have favorites that fluctuate based off of many factors like how, where, and when we experience the song; whether that be in at home, on the road, or in a fete (party). I often have a favorite tune that I project to be popular during Carnival time that ends up receiving minimal road/radio/fete play.

As a soca junkie, I present to you all my “Top 10 2019 Trinidad Soca Riddims Released by Christmas Day”, followed by honorable mentions (there are plenty of riddims worth noting). At the conclusion of the blog post I list 17 soca songs released for 2019 that I cannot wait to hear during Trinidad Carnival 2019, and 5 soca songs released for 2018 that I hope to hear during Trinidad Carnival 2019.

“If yuh doh even know dat song catch up on your soca…” — R.A.W — GBM Nutron

Click the bolded song titles in this post that you haven’t heard yet and get acclimated quickly, Carnival is around the corner, and come Boxing Day, there will be many more tunes to keep up with.

The below list is a Top 10, #1 being the best so far. (The songs within the riddims that are listed are in order from favorite to least favorite).

Some of the criteria is based on:

A) How many times I have played it since it’s release

B) The variation in artiste features

C) The catchy and/or meaningful lyrics that can be found within the songs

D) The overall sound of the riddim instrumental and the vibes that it gives off

10. Want Riddim — Produced by Mical Teja | Mixed by Kevin ‘vexmony’ Beharry | Mastered by Precision Productions

This riddim is described as a piece of work that acknowledges that “we all have our wants and needs” and “It’s time to acknowledge our “wants” and make them a reality”, this amazing riddim is taken in three different directions by three uniquely talented soca artists.

Olatunji — Kaya

Patrice Roberts- Work 4 It

Mical Teja — Want

9. Twin Flame Riddim — Produced|Mixed|Mastered by Advokit Productions in collaboration with Julian’s Promos

This riddim is described as “an exploration of eternal love, time, respect and desire”, it was one of the earlier soca 2019 releases and each song truly explores and expresses unique intimate emotion.

Kes — Love It

Sekon Sta — I Swear

Marvay — Hit De Boy

Olatunji — Thank Mama

Azaryah — Sugar

Angelique — Rock With Me

Inzey — Hold

8. Hawt Wire Riddim — Produced by Hector “Mr Legz” Thomas for YTM Recordz | Mixed and mastered by Precision Productions

This riddim is a project that was amongst the first few riddims released for the 2019 season and includes a great variation of artists with powerful lyrics to accompany the “Hawt” riddim.

Shal Marshall — One Wine

Nadia Batson — Strangers

Mr. Legz — Champion Winer

Problem Child — Make Sense

7. Brace Up Riddim — Produced by Keshav & Rakka | Mixed & Mastered by Precision Productions

This powerful soca tune recently released is already causing a scene and will definitely be responsible for carnival revellers who like to brace up on a gate/fence and proceed to pump.

MX Prime — Seek and Find

Machel Montano — Brace Up

Kevin Lyttle — How They Wining

Bunji Garlin — Badang!

Olatunji — Oh Me Oh My

Ricardo Drue — My Kinda Party

Chromatics — Bigger Dan Dem

6. Daybreak Riddim — Produced | Mixed | Mastered by Nikholai Greene

This next level riddim was released very recently and sent chills through my body. This is a perfect riddim for Jouvert morning. Hands down one of the best Jouvert vibe riddim instrumentals released thus far. So doh fraid of dem devils, tap into your bacchanal spirit, meet me at the drunktion and tell me your jab story.

Dev — Doh Fraid

Bunji Garlin- Dem Devils

Jaiga- Bacchanal Spirit

Lavaman- Drunktion

Tall Pree- Jab Story

5. Ole Ting Riddim — Produced by Motto | Mixed by Teamfoxx | Mastered by Precision Productions

This riddim provides listeners with a soca-zouk collaboration that will cause you dance, feel happy, and force you to sharpen your creole. Machel links with with Jacob a.k.a KASSAV from The French Antilles and gives us Dancè. Big shout out to Motto who produced and released his own tune to this riddim. Overall, all of the artists took on this unique beat and made it into their own.

Machel Montano x Kassav — Dancè

Motto — One Woman

Patrice Roberts — Good

Skinny Fabolous — Happy

4. 10X Over Riddim — Produced | Mixed | Mastered by: Precision Productions

This riddim is so sweet and the tunes on it are lyrical and catchy as well. Big up to the artists. This riddim was groundbreaking for the genre, as it was released by Precision Productions using a unique augmented reality effect. This was the first riddim release for the 2019 season by Precision and it gave everyone a heads up that Precision is here to change the game.

Patrice Robert — Into You

Problem Child — Whole Heart

Kimba Sorzano — Day Time Party

3. Toco Loco — Produced by TJ Records Mixed by Hitgruves Music | Mastered by Birch Hill Record

This riddim is super groovy and once played it automatically brings the listener to a calm setting (as if the cover art for the project didn’t already take you to Toco Beach in Trinidad. Machel’s tune Toco Loco takes win in my opinion, but the other tunes are not too far behind.The songs released under this riddim are quite distinct from one another and even includes Jamaican dancehall artists that are gearing up for Jamaica carnival in 2019 as well.

Machel Montano — Toco Loco

Patrice Roberts — Touch Me

Kes — Nah Let Go

Demarco — Shaku Wine

Konshens — Sexin

Demarco — Shaku Wine

Charly Black — Black Wine

Pumpa- Roppa PamPam

2. Bring It Back Riddim — Produced by David Bishop of Lanzie Music, Gideon Bishop of GMS Productions & Nikholai Greene | Mixed by Nikholai Greene | Mastered by Precision Productions

This riddim is amazing. The mission to bring soca to the world often causes the culture to conform at times to reach a larger audience, this riddim reminds us to “Raise Them” right, say “No More” to that, and “Bring It Back” to “Greatness” so that we can truly bring “Soca To The World”. I feel all the artists on this riddim really brought their “A” game and this is one of the rare riddims with 4 or more artists on it that does not have a weak song.

Marge Blackman x Turner — Soca To The World

Bunji — Raise Them

Kerry John — Bring it Back

Aaron Duncan — No More

Viking Ding Dong — Greatness

Lyrikal — Show Me The Way

1.Osaka Riddim — Produced | Mixed | Mastered by Precision Productions

Oh goshhhhhh. Coming in hot at #1. This Japanese inspired riddim provides a unique and groundbreaking sound to soca music. 5Star Akil shoots a music video in Japan and collaborates with connects soca lovers around the world. Voice links with Bishop Anstey High School Choir, after a massive flood effected Trinidad and Tobago that same month and releases out one of my favorite songs of the season thus far. Overall, all the artists on this riddim did very well and set the bar high not only for the upcoming soca season, but also the years that will follow.

Voice ft, Bishop Anstey High School Choir — Alive and Well

Kerwin Dubois — Right For Somebody

5Star Akil — Personal

Preedy — Warm Up

LFS Music- Start It

Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Purple Heart Riddim, Queens Riddim, 4th Quarter Riddim, Foli Riddim, Ghostbusters Riddim, Tight Squeeze Riddim, Do This Riddim, Jollof Rice Riddim, Lavway Riddim, Lost and Found Riddim, Kickstand riddim, Jamish Riddim, Bantu Village Riddim, CornerRock Riddim, and Beng Riddim.

17 Soca Songs Released for Carnival 2019 That I Cannot Wait To Hear During Trinidad Carnival:

Blaxx — Gyal Owner

Chennet X Donell — Clockwise

Erphaan Alves- Compromise

Farmer Nappy — Day One

GBM Nutron — EOTY (Employee Of The Year)

GBM Nutron — Practice

Holla Bak- Too Sweet

Iwer George — Road March Bacchanal 2

Kerwin Dubois — Soca Demon

Kes The Band — Dah Wuk

Miguel Maestre- Solo

Nailah Blackman — Iron Love

Patrice — This Is De Place

Kerwin Dubois, Lyrical, Teddyson John- Speechless

Swappi x Ultimate Rejects — Party Start

Ultimate Rejects — Giants

Voice — Smile

5 Soca Songs Released For 2018 That I Hope To Hear During Trinidad Carnival 2019:

GBM Milko — Fuel (2018 but re-released for 2019)

Lil Natty x Thunda — Get In Your Section

Lil Natty x Thunda x Machel Montano — Top Striker

Mandella Linkz — Tombstone

Vghn — Trouble In D Morning

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