The Music of Trinidad & Tobago

Sep 29, 2021

If you stop for a moment as you walk down the streets of Trinidad and Tobago and listen, you’ll likely be greeted by the uptempo beat of soca playing on a maxi-taxi radio, or the sound of steel drums drifting out of someone’s yard. Usually festive, often political or melancholic, the music of Trinidad and Togabo digs deeply into the emotion of the island life.

Although Carnival takes place in February, the music of Trinidad and Tobago is always in the air! Let’s dive into some of the most prominent genres found on the islands.

Calypso

Often a medium for political and social satire, calypso music’s roots go all the way back to the days of slavery. African slaves on the islands were prohibited from speaking while they worked, so they sang in patios, sharing gossip and news, while also mocking their masters. Today, risque lyrics, pointed social and political commentary, and lyrical wordplay are still prominent parts of calypso.

Mighty Sparrow, the undisputed king of calypso, and his contemporaries, like the late, great “Grandmaster” Lord Kitchener, voiced popular concerns and social consciousness since the early 1950s. Another famous calypso artist, David Rudder, helped to revive the genre in the mid-1980s by adding experimental rhythms, showcasing both the cultural importance and inherent flexibility of calypso.

Other important calypso artists to look out for include Calypso Rose, whose international collaborations with acts like Manu Chao have brought her worldwide access and even earned her an appearance at 2019’s Coachella festival – two weeks before her 79th birthday! Also look for the great Winston “Shadow” Bailey, whose distinctive voice still sings out over Trinidad and Tobago’s airways four years after his death.

Soca

Soca, the high-energy offspring of calypso, was born in the 1970s. Using the same basic beat as calypso, soca speeds things up a bit and creates danceable rhythms that are simply perfect for Carnival season.

Although soca hasn’t yet had the international success as other genres, its biggest stars have collaborated with a number of internationally known names, from Diplo to Pitbull. This international influence has brought elements of reggae, afrobeats, and pop into many recent soca hits.

The reigning king of soca is undeniably Machel Montano. Other important names include Bunji Garlin, known for his fast lyrics, Fay-Ann Lyons, Kes the Band, Destra, Nailah Blackman, and Nessa Preppy.

Chutney

This fast-paced, highly rhythmic music beloved by Indian Trinis is usually accompanied by the dholak, a Northern Indian folk drum, and the dhantal, a metal rod played with a metal striker.

Chutney songs are most often used to celebrate everyday social situations – everything from women witnessing a birth, to men partying at a bar. At its core, chutney music is a sort of fusion of classical Hindu music with more contemporary soca. What’s undeniable, it that it will get your toes tapping and your hips swaying!

Notable artists to keep an eye out for include Rikki Jai and Ravi B, as well as newer acts like GI.

Parang

In its infancy, parang was only heard in rural areas inhabited by Hispanic Trinis, but it has evolved into a national phenomenon. Parang actually originated in Venezuela with lyrics sung in Spanish – although English lyrics dominate contemporary releases.

As Trinidad and Tobago’s traditional Christmas soundtrack, parang is prominent on the radio during the season and groups of parranderos play at bars and clubs throughout the islands.

Steel Pan

The very heart of Carnival is, of course, rhythm and percussion Traditionally, percussionists banged together bamboo cut into various lengths, or simply used whatever they could find – the road, sides of buildings, even their own knees! When African drums were banned during World War II, these traditional drummers started using biscuit tins, and then discarded oil drums. These drums were eventually shaped and tunes to create a brand new instrument.

Today’s steep pans, sometimes called “steel drums,” come in a wide variety of sizes, each of which produces a unique note. Together they become a cascading waterfall of music.

During Carnival, some bands drive along the parade route on flatbed trucks, aiming to win Panorama, the national contest that runs during the Carnival season.

Reggae, Dub, and Conscious Music

Although these genres are all imported into Trinidad and Tobago from Jamaica, reggae, dub, and conscious music all enjoy strong support and lots of fans on the islands. As a matter of fact, these musical genres may have an even larger following in Tobago – where most of the population is of African descent – than where they originated.

Is it long past time for you to start your musical journey? Maybe you have children who are showing an interest in learning to play an instrument? Either way, The Music Studio’s professional instruction is here to help you along your path to music!

We’ve got programs for all ages and skill levels, so if you’re just starting out, or coming back after some time away from lessons, we’ve got the perfect program for you! And now most of them are available online! Visit our website and sign up today.