Trinidad & Tobago soca stars KES (aka KES THE BAND) invite viewers to experience a vintage slice of island life in the video for their latest single, “Jolene.” Trinidadian filmmaker Maya Cozier (She Paradise) directed the nostalgic visuals, which center the song in a small Caribbean fishing village, circa mid-20th century.
There we find KES frontman Kees Diefenthaller — also known as KES — competing with other villagers to win the affection of the track’s namesake character. The clip captures the rich, lulling rhythm of island life, with images of fishing, coconuts, dancing and rum, while taking inspiration from Brazil’s ‘60s-era cinema novo movement with its vibrant saturated colors and period attire.
A blend of soca, afrobeats, calypso and island pop flavors produced by British-Trinidadian producer Dwala, “Jolene” is the first taste of KES’ next full-length album, coming this Summer through California-based Ineffable Records.
The buoyant celebration of good vibes and rolling waistlines arrives amidst Trinidad & Tobago’s traditional Carnival season — a time of year when soca artists typically roll out new music to soundtrack the season’s coming festivities. With Carnival celebrations on pause for a second year, KES reached outside the box to create a record that could pull listeners from around the world into the Caribbean, no matter where they find themselves in the world.
“I wanted to transport you to a place where, even if you’ve never been to the islands before, you would feel like you are there,” KES says. “The Caribbean is a melting pot of cultures and people together in this beautiful place, and this song captures all of these vibes.”
Cozier, whose music video credits include Kranium’s “In Charge” and Freetown Collective’s “Human Form,” earned widespread acclaim in 2021 with her debut feature film, She Paradise. The soca-fueled, coming-of-age story, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, was distributed theatrically this past fall by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
“I’ve always been a huge fan of Kes, and when I heard the song I got excited,” Cozier says of “Jolene.” “I immediately thought of calypso, and wanted to capture that time period.” Shot in Las Cuevas, a fishing village on Trinidad’s secluded North Coast, the video’s imagery takes cues from documentary footage of Trinidad & Tobago in calypso’s 1950s heyday; Brazilian director Glauber Rocha’s 1962 film Barrevento; and Trinidad & Tobago’s folkloric theater tradition.
In spite of the pandemic, recent times have brought a string of highlights for KES. 2021 saw the band make its U.S. TV debut on Late Night with Steven Colbert, and return to the States for their first tour dates in over two years, including their climactic IzWe concert in New York City, which brought nearly 10,000 fans to Brooklyn’s Boardwalk Lot on Labor Day. In August 2020, they released the live album We Home (Ineffable Records), a project which earned them plaudits in outlets ranging from Essence to The FADER.
Over the last two years, the band has organized a run of virtual concerts that have aired live on TV across the Caribbean and streamed worldwide ontheir YouTube channel, timed to key dates on Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural calendar.
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 makes his debut at Best of the Best 2026.
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.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruiseshares 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.
Beenie Man will be on the cruise in November.
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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