1ST Klase Records Blazes With "Kaiso Jam Riddim"

Trinidadian hit-house 1st Klase Records ignites the Carnival 2014 season and Trinidadian music overall, with the release of its brand new "Kaiso Jam Riddim."

The first of its kind, instrumental only, soca-meets-EDM fusion single is being released to radio stations and DJs in Trinidad today, February 10, 2014 and will be available worldwide from all major digital retailers on March 24, 2014, from FOX FUSE.

Producer Klase Gonzales, at the helm of 1st Klase Records, feels this unique release - an instrumental-only single - stands on its own merit, without the presence or need of vocals from an artist, as the sheer melody, beats and rhythm are suffice to carry it across platforms and borders.  

"What we are doing with 'Kaiso Jam' has never been done before in soca music," states Gonzales. "1st Klase Records is always looking to do something different and we love to push the envelope. We've created a new style with this instrumental-only single and this is just the beginning." He reveals the label has many more such releases planned for the rest of the year, beyond the typical soca cycle (Carnival season) and into 2015. 

Starting out as a producer about five years ago, Gonzales also added to his repertoire as a dancer in Machel Montano's HD band. Through that, Gonzales toured the world and has truly experienced music on the world stage, while also creating his own label and translating those life experiences into composing his unique brand of soca. He is no longer a dancer, this year being his first year as a full-time music producer, and he has quickly become known for his eclectic, genre-bending productions, as is evident with "Kaiso Jam Riddim." 

Gonzales has been steadily building his label and recently signed upcoming producer Taj "FKR" Balthazar, who is still in training. Gonzales sees a lot of potential in the young producer and has taken him under his wing. In fact, Balthazar co-produced "Kaiso Jam Riddim," alongside Gonzales, while it was mixed by 1st Klase and Neel "Fadda" Dwala, and mastered by Martin "Mice" Raymond.

Orisha Sound Scores With World War 3‏

Russian born reggae/dancehall artiste Orisha Sound is currently blowing up FM radio with her hit single titled World War 3 ft. Beenie Man.

The steamy Dancehall track that was produced by Josh Stevens, K-Kov and Shel K for Black & Yellow Entertainment, was recently added to the playlist of a number of main stream radio stations in the US including HOT 97 in New York.

“The song is doing very well, I’m very excited about how it has been received by DJs all over the world.

It’s getting a lot support in the US, Europe, the UK, Canada, Africa, Japan, Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean.”  

Since the release of the single a few weeks ago Orisha and Beenie Man have been very busy doing the promotional rounds. So far they have done interviews together and separately on a number of local radio and television stations including FAME FM, IRIE FM, RJR 94 FM, TVJ, HYPE TV and CVM TV. “We have been doing a lot of work to make sure the song is a success. 

Everywhere we go to promote World War 3 we get a lot of positive reactions,” said Orisha. Orisha was well received when she made a cameo appearance during Beenie Man’s performance at the recently concluded Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. “We received a very good response when performed World War 3 at the Jazz fest. 

The vibes from the crowd was awesome, they loved every moment of our performance.” The video for World War 3 is also enjoying strong rotation on television stations such as Tempo, HYPE TV, CVM Plus, LINKZ T V, RETV & Entertainment plus.

Smash Productions Drops The Bateria Riddim‏

Ready to draw in the Carnival season for the penultimate climax, Smash Productions releases his long anticipated 2014 project, the Bateria Riddim.

Traversing deep into the rugged, historical, rich landscape of the favela Rocinha and transcending all rhythmical journeys ever made, this highly explosive riddim has managed to capture the true pulse of Rio de Janeiro, reverberating back to the streets of Port of Spain, with a resounding pitch.

A project inspired by a trip to the favelas in 2012, curiously drawn to the musical ensemble making up the samba band, teaming alongside JRod Records for the 2014 release, Smash has managed to masterfully take the core element of the samba rhythm section, inspired by the favela and time spent in one of Rio's largest samba school, Salgueiro.  

Creating the perfect tone and pitch and commanding the ensemble at large, thundering past the first release, in a performance worthy of a second accolade, BestInternational Performance Award Winner Bunji Garlin drops the first single, "Pat Your Drum". 

Enchantingly pulling, this single is set to intoxicate the core of all wining queens and pull in all contenders vying for the ultimate position. With more surprise singles slated for release, Bateria Riddim is set to enthral those who will infectiously get signalled by its pull.