Konshens revels in soca
...drops 3 jams for Carnival season
As the Carnival season moves into high gear, dancehall deejay Konshens has released three soca jams for the year.
The songs Flirt, Bumpers in the Air, and Rum Buss have been making an impact in soca music circles.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer’s Splash on Wednesday, Konshens spoke about making the transition into soca music and the genre’s growth locally.
“Soca music is a seasonal thing and, from the moment mi fall in love with it a few years ago, mi always keep up wid it. Mi love it almost as much as mi love dancehall music. Mi really love Caribbean culture and what the genre itself means to Caribbean people,” Konshens told Splash.
When asked how he decides what style to go with on a particular soca track, the Bruck Off Yuh Back deejay said: “Just wanting to be involved in every aspect. I think just like how people know Konshens the dancehall artiste, I think it carries over to mi in every genre weh mi explore. Mi is a fan first; once mi become a fan, mi cyaan help miself. Mi haffi try every different style, anything that resonate with me,” said Konshens.
Having performed at Carnival events in the region, Konshens was asked to compare those with similar events locally.
“Mi feel like inna di world, because our aura so big as Jamaicans, it almost feel like wi not in the Caribbean sometimes. A one Caribbean, and I think everybody have dem own national pride. And, for me, Jamaica Carnival has been more intertwined with the dancehall. Yuh still have the dancehall energy,” he shared.
Asked if he felt that Carnival activities in Jamaica were making a strong impact on the international scene or much more work needed to be done, Konshens said: “I think there’s much more work to be done. I think it’s a very protected genre. I think wi a wing it offa di fact say we are who we are. People think soca and think Trinidad. I think the next step is to make Jamaica a soca, dancehall and reggae destination.”
The artiste was sure to add: “I enjoy the Carnival experience; I went to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and experienced it. I understand the Carnival experience, I know what it is about. Mi understand what it’s all about and mi love it. Mi love J’Overt more than the road march.”
Konshens last released a dancehall studio album in 2019. The follow-up to Badman vs Nice Guy is expected to be released in a matter of months.
“Fans can expect mi dancehall album dropping this summer,” said Konshens.
