PRIDE & CARNIVAL
Soundtracking the space between Pride and Carnival both figuratively and also chronologically in a week that without Covid 19 regulations would have seen St Paul’s Carnival at one end and Bristol Pride the other, Sam Atki2 did an incredible job with his Super Soca Show Xtra mixtape on Ujima 98FM last Thursday (8th July). In his own words,
“This week's Super Soca Show Xtra is all about Parading Love. I love the Carnival parade and I love Pride. For me, they've always had a lot in common... a march/party in the streets that celebrates freedom and resists oppression... where the music is loud, rousing, and high energy... I couldn't say which has more colours, sequins and flesh on display 😄. And it's a place of relative safety for all kinds of different people.
As a gay man who's been playing out Soca for over fifteen years (and been loving the music for many more!), putting together this 2-hour mixtape for the radio has been a personal challenge. Biggest thanks and respect to blogger and writer Trini Trent, who so eloquently expressed something I've always felt about Carnival, and who gave me the confidence to get on and make this mix! His words feature throughout.”
It’s a powerful mixtape. Although there are no Soca songs that overtly tackle the subject of being gay, Trini Trent’s insights into the way Carnival creates a safe space for LGBQT people to parade and express themselves openly, fused with a selection of huge, energising and uplifting Island pop tunes about not compromising who you are for anyone and being loud and proud of yourself, I’m not gonna lie it brought a tear to my eye a few times during the course of the two hours.
The mix is big, bold and most definitely bright with a polished pop shine, plenty of trance synths and major chords. It’s also stacked with some of Soca’s ultimate Diva’s such as Destra, Alison Hinds and Fay-Ann Lyons. I think it’s probably fair to say that it is without doubt, the gayest Soca mix there has ever been and I really hope it finds an audience who can relate to it in a personal way. Not that there isn’t plenty for the rest of us to enjoy, and I highly recommend it for everyone.
You can listen back to it here and the tracklist is below. You can catch the Super Soca Show Xtra every Thursday on Ujima 98FM from 2-4pm and of course you can catch Sam and the rest of the team every Saturday from 12-2pm.
Tracklist
Nadia Batson - Cyah Change
Kerwin Du Bois - No Apology
DJ Private Ryan & Kes - Reason To Love (Energy)
Machel Montano - Temperature
Lil' Bitts - Booty Bounce
Jo Jo - Drum Roll
Fuse ODG - Antenna (UK Club Mix)
Destra - Lucky
Problem Child - Never Change
Anson Pro. - Games Instrumental
Trini Trent - "Trinidad men find freedom from homophobia in Carnival"
Kes The Band - People
Alison Hinds - Woman Bad
Lord Invader - My Experience On The Reperbahn
Nikita Browne - Solo
Nisha Ramsook - Fireman
Destra Garcia - Sassiness
Erphaan Alves - Deal With It
Nadia Batson & Patrice Roberts - We Not Leaving
Destra - Hott
Rita Jones - Better Than You
Machel Montano - Human
Destra Garcia - Lucy
Lil' Bitts - Burning Up
Bubbles - Started
Melly Rose - Body Good
Alison Hinds - Parade
Calypso Rose x Machel Montano - Young Boy
Shenseea x Vybz Kartel - Lodi
Eleni Foureira - Fuego (Atki2 Carnival Mix)
Aisha Noel - One Dance
Nadia Batson - Kiss
Nailah x Shenseea - Badishh
Destra Garcia - Run Road
Sanell Dempster - Touch Meh Up
Patrice Roberts & Macka Diamond - Wukkin Up (Remix)
Delisha - D' Riddim
Major Lazer feat. Ariana Grande & Machel Montano - All My Love (Remix)
Destra - Service Man
Precision Productions - Sando Riddim
Trini Trent - "How do we stop homophobia?"
Fay-Ann Lyons - Raze
Zoelah - Wine Up On Me (Scratch Master Road Mix)
Kevon Carter - Making It Hard
Farmer Nappy - Down Low
Patrice Roberts - Trouble
Kes X Travis World - Proud
Machel Montano - Erupt
Timmy - Bumpa Catch a Fire
Machel Montano ft. Patrice Roberts - Great Parade
