Ola brings the Carnival riddim

Olatunji "Ola" Yearwood promises soca lovers that if “Is riddim dey want, is riddim dey go get” with his first 2021 release Riddim We Want.

He said the Mega Mick-produced single is in direct response to the call from West Indians everywhere for positive energy and direction heading into the new year.

“The people want that riddim, yuh know. Yuh could feel it in de air. Yeah, we cyah have a physical Carnival, but people craving dat beat dat shuffles us into the new year and informs our movement. As artistes it is our duty to listen to de people and supply dem with what they crave,” Olatunji said in a media release.

He said the feeling of liberation and empowerment through the music dates back to the genesis of Carnival, birthed through fires of defiance and fuelled by a deep spirit of resistance. Riddim We Want is informed by that era and the great bards that emerged out of the period, Ola said.

The St James-born singer recently released a remake of calypso pioneer Lord Invader’s (Rupert Grant) Don’t Stop Carnival. He said his new release builds on that narrative by echoing Invader’s calls – in the face of World War II for the Carnival to continue in some form through any circumstance – like in the middle of the global pandemic.

“I’m inspired again by Lord Invader and dat message of resistance. With Carnival cancelled due to the World War II in the 40s Invader pleaded with authorities to ‘doh stop de Carnival’ with de understanding of what it truly meant to de people. I’ve come full circle with that message in our current situation of covid19. But, I’m saying we have the technology to do de ting virtual, so leh we do de ting right and gih dem de riddim, yuh feel me?” Ola said.