BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival approaches and we are one day away from the official opening ceremony of ‘Sugar Mas 40:40 Non-Stop Mas & Party’, many persons are asking about the bands and their album releases.
One of the exciting traditions of the celebration each year is the practice of persons being glued to radio stations at their homes or even bars, listening to live interviews and the releasing of the new music from each band.
Some bands even go the extra mile in pleasing their fans by organizing a live listening party, as they introduce their new tracks.
And people are now anxious as they are each year anticipating the release of the bands’ albums, but for some reason the wait seems longer than usual and the question stirs, “When will the band’s release their new music?”
SKNVibes spoke with the bands to get as much scoop and information as possible on their upcoming work and what their fans can expect.
Out of all the bands we spoke with, the only band that gave a specific date on when their album would drop was the ‘sweetest band in the world’, Small Axe Band.
According to their manager Gregory Warner, the band will release their album on Monday, Nov. 28, on Freedom FM at 9:00 p.m.
He said the album will be called ‘One Step Ahead’ and that the name reflects some of the band’s experiences throughout their career and how they have been able to come out on top.
The album will feature 10 new tracks and a song featuring their popular chant ‘De soap drop’ is expected to be on the album.
In terms of the Road March and whether they would strategize to win, Warner said they will be playing for the fans and not specifically for the win.
“We will not be doing anything extra-ordinary to win,” he said.
Lights Out Band fans will be disappointed to know that for this Carnival the band will not be releasing an album.
One of the managers of the band, Kurt Benjamin said that due to financial constraints and other encounters they will not be able to produce an album.
However, all is not lost as the band manager said they will be releasing singles instead of an album and people will definitely be hearing from them during Sugar Mas.
Former 3-peat Road March champs, the Grand Masters Band said they are hoping to release their album ‘Step Pon Dem’ early December.
Band Manager, Wingrove Hicks said that the album does not feature a title-track but there is a line in the song that says, “Step Pon Dem”.
The band is still in the studio putting the final touches to their nine-track album as Hicks said they have been busy with their Proud Sounds/Grand Masters Calypso tent, which has prevented them from completing the album.
“It’s going to be a real classic album for Carnival with all new tracks and chants that we have released this year that will also be on the album,” Hicks informed.
‘Dress Back’ and ‘None of them could party like we’ are some of the chants that will be featured on the album.
In terms of the Road March, the band said that they will compete to win and if they lose they will take their defeat in stride.
The Kollision Band was very tight-lipped about their upcoming album that they say is not yet completed.
The band may be the last band to release their album as they estimate in two-weeks the album should be completed and, if possible, released.
The band has never won the Road March title and they see that a win will be important and beneficial to the band so they are looking forward to competing this year.
And, finally, the band which is said to have the biggest following on the road, the Nu Vybes Band a.k.a. the Sugar Band, said they would be releasing their album “shortly”.
They too were extremely tight-lipped about their upcoming album and David ‘Junie’ Adams, manager of the band said that the album’s title will reflect the usual high standard production they release every year.
The band is also still in the studio and they are looking into the possibility of releasing the album live with their fans and supporters present upon completion of it.
They will be traveling to St. Thomas, St. Croix and Tortola from tomorrow (Nov. 25) to play for their many ‘sugar head’ Virgin Island fans.
In terms of the Road March, well what do you expect coming from the band that has almost everyone saying, “Road March outta style”.
They will not be doing anything different or special in terms of winning the Road March and will continue to do what they do which is pleasing the fans.
“The criteria needs to change, it makes no sense,” said Adams.
