Ebuzz News
Ding Dong Is Serious. Artiste Releases 2 New Songs, Slims Down As He Focuses on Tobago.
Thirty-five pounds lost on a journey of accountability, Trinidad and Tobago Soca trendsetter, Ding Dong is out the gate early, already delivering two songs ahead of Tobago carnival 2025. Intentional and extremely strategic, the DJ and artiste, says he’s doing what he has to, to be able to give fans a full range of music, no matter demographic or vibe.
Over the past few years, Andre Holder has consistently delivered for Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, ensuring that he has not only been a mainstay to the festival, but an ambassador of the new sound of Soca music. A frontline artiste with de All Starz Band, Ding Dong takes his artistry seriously, explaining that he dutifully works with a new producer and songwriter each year.
As he prepares for this year’s Tobago Carnival and Trinidad Carnival 2026, he has turned to songwriter Emmanuel Rudder and producer, Richard Gosine. “I’ve released ‘Wanna Party’ on the Guitar Man riddim,” said the artiste, explaining that the riddim, which also features Salty and Ms. Kerlz, is Gosine’s breakthrough project. “He’s been on the scene, but this is actually his first project and the riddim is named after him,” he highlighted. ‘Wanna Party’ is just one of a series of songs Ding Dong plans on releasing for Tobago carnival in October. “These songs will essentially make the transition into Trinidad’s carnival, but I’ve been observing the growth of Tobago’s festival and we’re making Tobago the focus for now.”
A second single, ‘Mas Band Thoughts’ was released on September 12th. Featuring DJ Spider, the track was produced by both DJ Spider and Darien Bailey, and hears the entertainer manipulate his vocals to introduce listeners to something less invasive, and possibly, a little more enticing. For Ding Dong, the journey is to be reveled in. “I’ve been setting up my repertoire in a specific way. I started off with 105 BPM and each season, I’ve tried to catch four songs in a BPM before moving on to a higher BPM. Right now, I’m hitting 115- 130. I need two more songs at 130 and then I’ll move into Power Soca to have a well- rounded set,” he said, making it abundantly clear that it’s all strategic.
Discipline has been a key component to the success of this radio disc- jockey turned all-out Soca artiste. Fueled by an undeniable love for music, Ding Dong has set himself in a category that some see as unbeatable. Now, bent on ensuring that his body can further his ambitions on stage, he’s pushing hard for a better physical weight. “Documenting my weight-loss journey has shown people that patience and discipline is the key to growth in life, I think. I’m showing the relationship between mind, body, soul and fitness. The journey is not easy,” he admits, highlighting that for him, sleep- a necessary component, is often difficult to attain. “As an entertainer, sleep is hard and the body needs sleep to repair itself when you’re on a fitness journey. When your body is accustomed to being up during peak season, reverting to sleeping at night becomes difficult. I call it the party body and you can’t change that because you’ll be tired at events when that time comes around again.
Big plans and equally big songs in store for fans of Soca music, the young, well-loved entertainer is aspiring for greatness. “I’m giving my repertoire a little more maturity when it comes to the catalogue. The aim is to make the catalogue of music diverse,” he reiterated, encouraging variety and enjoyment for the seasons of revelry ahead, first in Tobago and then in Trinidad, come February 2026.
NEW MUSIC
Ebuzz News
Trinidad and Tobago’s Voice Will Rep for Soca at Best of the Best 2026. Artiste’s Inclusion Shows Soca’s Global Reach.
He had one of the most memorable Carnival seasons with a Soca track that stole the hearts of Soca lovers in 2026 and now Aaron ‘Voice’ St. Louis is set to represent hard for the Soca music genre at the upcoming ‘Best of the Best’ Music Festival in Miami on May 26th. His appearance will be his debut to the highly anticipated festival and already, the energy is high.
Voice represents the bridge between Millennial Soca and GenZ vibes. ‘Cyah Behave Mehself’ was lapped up like good Caribbean food at Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago back in February, and it is expected to do the same as the international summer season approaches.
Set to take place on May 26th at Museum Park, Downtown Miami, Voice’s inclusion on the cast underscores the Soca genre’s continued global reach within a predominantly reggae and dancehall showcase. Known for his high energy performances and melodic songwriting, the Trinidad and Tobago three -time Soca Monarch King has built an extensive catalogue of hits that that has proven to resonate with a global audience.
Organizers say anticipation for Voice’s performance at Best of the Best, is high. “Fans are looking forward to a dynamic set that brings soca’s signature energy to the festival stage.”
Best of the Best Music Fest remains one of North America’s premiere Caribbean music events, drawing fans from across the region and Diaspora for a full day of live performances. This year’s lineup includes, Sizzla Kalonji, Beenie Man, Tarrus Riley, Capleton, Rajah Wild, Skeng, Vanessa Bling, among others.
Reggae
New ‘Jamrock’ Documentary Celebrates Unforgettable Moments. Cruise Returns to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa, This Year.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise shares its story through a new film. VIBE premiered All in the Same Boat, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Reshma B and produced by Boomshots TV that traces Marley and his manager Dan Dalton’s brainchild from a bold, outsider idea into one of the most culturally significant movements in reggae and dancehall today.
With over a decade’s worth of unforgettable moments pulled from the last 10 voyages, this 30+ minute documentary captures the spirit of a global reggae community built on shared identity, resilience, and reverence for Jamaican culture. It features iconic performances, real conversations with the artistes and DJs, and the heartbeat of it all: the “Jamrockers.” These are die-hard reggae lovers from over 40 countries who pull up every year for one reason – to feel that irreplaceable connection to Jamaican culture and keep the Marley message of “One Love” alive.
Having successfully navigated challenges including extreme weather and a global pandemic, the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to thrive. Its 11th staging will return for its annual voyage from November 11th to the 16th, sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Joy.
Stacked from foundation to future, this year’s lineup brings together reggae and dancehall’s most influential voices: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley (Traffic Jam Set), Burning Spear, Sizzla, Capleton, Beenie Man, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Lila Iké, Ding Dong & the Ravers Clavers, Tony Matterhorn “Man on the Moon”, Gyptian, 450, Richie Spice, Ghost, Mr. Lexx, Professor Nuts, L.U.S.T., Sister Carol, Sevana, Flourgon, Johnny P, and Jemere Morgan are confirmed.
The cruise’s famed Sound Clash at Sea will return alongside powerhouse sound systems including Stone Love (Geefus), King Jammy, Silverhawk Sound, Rory Stone Love, Renaissance Sound, Federation Sound, Warrior Sound, Rampage Sound, Kingston12 HiFi and Souljah1 Muzik, preserving a cornerstone of Jamaican music culture in its most authentic form.
Jamrock is a Premiere Reggae Event
The Jamrock experience has evolved into the premier reggae event at sea—one that continues to redefine how the culture is celebrated on a global stage. The five-day experience continues to immerse guests in the full spectrum of Jamaican life—from Nyabinghi sunrise sessions and sound bath meditations to dancehall workshops, fitness programming, and curated culinary offerings led by acclaimed Chef Lumley. A new addition this year includes a live theatrical production by legendary playwright Oliver Samuels, adding yet another layer to the cruise’s ever-expanding cultural canvas.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the cruise will return to Jamaica with renewed purpose, maintaining its distinction as the only chartered cruise with two Jamaican port stops. That commitment translates into tangible impact, generating millions annually for the island’s tourism and cultural economy while reinforcing a direct connection between the music, the people, and the place that birthed it.
As All in the Same Boat makes clear, Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise is a movement with its own rhythm, one that continues to bring the diaspora home, while inviting the world in. Since its inception in 2014, the mission remains the same: to create a space where reggae lives, breathes, and connects us all.
The documentary made its debut during the 10th annual cruise and later screened at Art Basel in support of hurricane relief efforts led by the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths Foundation. Damian Marley and Dan Dalton were executive producers of the film.
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