Kalpee releases Island Gyal remixes

Multi-faceted Caribbean artist Kalpee calls on fellow award-winner Trinidad producer Precision and platinum-selling UK production team Da Beatfreakz (DBF) as he brings the tropics to the airwaves with his soca and dancehall remixes released on June 17.

Kalpee builds on the explosive success of Island Gyal which saw support from Notion, House of Solo and Wordplay Magazine praising the spellbinding single for its soulful melodies and modern fusion of calypso, dancehall, and reggae rhythms, said a media release.

The remixes kick off with impact, as Da Beatfreakz presents an infectious take on the track, with a punchy, upbeat dancehall groove elevating sun-kissed piano, later accompanied by mesmerising string stabs which drive the energetic remix forward, the release said.

Having worked with the likes of Giggs, N-Dubz, Chris Brown and Sean Paul, DBF has been gifting the UK scene with fresh sounds for over 15 years and this Island Gyal Dancehall Remix sees its experience shine through, in a lively, beach-ready, dancehall remix led by Jay Moe for DBF.

On Island Gyal Dancehall Remix, DBF says in the release: “We loved working with Kalpee. His talent is crazy, and it’s been a blessing working with him and his team”

Trinidad and Tobago-born producer Kasey Phillips is the founder of music company Precision Productions. Publicly known as Precision, he has built a reputation for captivating soca, dancehall, reggae, pop, R&B and hip-hop audiences, while outside the studio his reputation earned him an invite to be on the Grammy Nomination Committee for the World Music genre in recognition of his work.

Precision’s Island Gyal Soca Remix is effortless. Built around a charging soca rhythm, the remix’s vocal edits lace the track with a feeling of bliss as Precision blends elements of various genres into his signature soca sound.

“The Island Gyal Soca Remix brings that Carnival energy for all waistlines and able bodies to get set for the road and take centre stage," Precision said in the release.

In spring, Kalpee once again featured on the Island Wave stage at SXSW 2022, with the aim of continuing to create a growing platform for Caribbean artists to come together, showcase, celebrate and support each other’s music. Island Wave successfully launched @ SXSW on March 18, filling the Flamingo Cantina, Austin, Texas, to capacity as part of the official SXSW festivities, with an after-party hosted by Ras Kwame and Reggae Recipe.

First of its kind, Island Wave is now not only the official home to Caribbean music at SXSW, returning in 2023 and years to come, but also the first home of New Calypso, a genre being pushed by TT musicians as a way to identify their musical heritage, which they proudly carry forward.

Kalpee x Island Wave continue to build a community of support within the creative industries and recently they opened up the conversation amongst Caribbean men, with a media campaign to bring awareness to Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week, specifically shaped around the male perspective within the Caribbean community.

Kalpee was joined by a host of Caribbean men such as Oritse Williams, founding member of UK group JLS, Freetown Collective from TT, Grammy-Award winner artist/ producer Walshy Fire, Haitian singer J-Perry and Jamaican dancehall artists king Bling-Dawg, to name a few, the release said.

The hope is that by sharing their experiences as men from the Caribbean of mental health – whether their own or through observation of those around them – they will increase awareness within the West Indies of male health issues and encourage inter- and intra-national institutions to develop health policies and services that meet the specific needs of men, boys, and their families.