Chutney Soca Monarch Rick Ram releases pop single

Chutney soca crossover act Rick Ram (Rick Ramoutar) is sailing into uncharted waters with the release of his first pop single Come to the Beach.

Ram has teamed with Scottish hitmaking songwriters/music producers Gary Mills and Nick Williams of G&N to create the Bad John Republic co-produced summer jam, a media release said.

The DJ-din produced music video for the project was shot on location in Tobago, with Ram’s wife Vanessa, Shiv Shakti Dancers' choreographer Michael Salickram and Joyceline Abraham serving as co-directors.

“It’s definitely a new lane for me, but one I’ve always wanted to explore,” Ram said in the release.

“It’s a totally different vibe from (what) chutney fans expect from me, but we’ve tapped into a refreshing Caribbean flavour I know they can identify with and own. It’s a meeting place where we hope to introduce our people to our new global fans and start a truly all-inclusive party,” he said.

The unlikely collaboration between contrasting music cultures of Scottish bagpipes and chutney tassa drums happened quite unexpectedly and organically, Ram said in the release.

Following his Chutney Soca Monarch win with his Luuuzzaarr at Carnival 2024, the Biche-born singer said he was stunned when contacted by G&N via e-mail requesting that they work together on a new project.

G&N has worked with several major labels including Universal, BMG and Sony Music during two decades of music-making. Their recordings have sold over a million copies and charted across Europe, Brazil and South East Asia, the release said.

“They sent us three demos to feel out a perfect fit. Vanessa, my wife and head of management, started the negotiations and her determination is why we are here,” Ram explained.

The unexpected opportunity, he reasons, opens new doors for chutney music and all its practitioners.

“This is something I've never expected in my wildest dreams. As the first chutney soca artiste to cross this barrier in history, this will introduce new opportunities not only for me and other artistes but for chutney soca music on a global platform. I will be able to explore these new and exciting opportunities to voice my talent where I can sing and record many different genres of music. It's definitely something big in the making.”