Island Wave - Pushing Caribbean Music To The Forefront
Photo Credit: Sammy Shirra-Moore
“Island Wave” is a platform dedicated to bringing music of the Caribbean to the forefront of the international music scene. Not only does it provide funding to Caribbean artist to be able to showcase internationally, but also creates spaces on stages which would not usually cater for a line-up, of established and talented emerging Caribbean musical artists.
“Island Wave” co-founder Kalpee, who has just spent 3 months in the MW Top 20 Black chart, having peaked at no4, sandwiched by Beyonce, closed the Music Matters Live Stage on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Grand Prix Singapore season celebrations in Clarke Quay this past weekend. As he lit the stage on fire with fellow Caribbean musicians Rhys Thompson on drums and Kwami Morrison on guitar, they blew away the crowds with their “New Calypso” sound, a genre being pushed by Trinbagonian musicians as a way to identify their musical heritage, which they proudly carry forward.
Attending the All That Matters conference that followed, (which is considered to be Asia’s leading entertainment industry event, that gathers the most influential players in global entertainment together, including speakers and leadership figures from top industry names such as TikTok, AEG, Universal Music, TuneCore, Apple, Spotify and YouTube), Island Wave had one mission, to target DSP’s to pose the very important question “ How can we work together to add Caribbean Music as a Main Standalone genre on DSP’s, so that Caribbean artist who can’t currently identify their musical heritage will be able to label their music correctly”.
The question was met with enthusiasm by all who it was posed to including Sulinna Ong, Global Head of Editorial at Spotify and Chief Executive Officer Andreea Gleeson and her team at TuneCore.
Tackling other important topics in trying to bridge the gap between the Caribbean diaspora and the international music scene, Island Wave founders also opened up the conversation with Paul Smith, Managing Director of YouTube Music APAC Google, on how to bring YouTube music to the Caribbean which is currently still not accessible.
‘Island Wave’ continue to expand as they push “Sounds of the Caribbean” across the Globe. As with SXSW next year, where “Island Wave” returns as the Official Caribbean Stage in Austin Texas, they will also be presenting the full stage of over 30 Caribbean Nationals from across the West Indies, as they host the very first Official Caribbean Stage at Music Matters Singapore in 2023.
Elsewhere at the festival, Kalpee introduced Island Wave’s objectives and ethos ahead of performing an acoustic set for delegates attending the AEG Live Music Matters panel with speaker Adam Wilkes President & CEO, AEG Asia AEG moderated by Alexei Barrionuevo International Editor Billboard.
To close the festivities of #MarketingMatters, Kalpee, Rhys and Kwami filled the room with that same Caribbean flare that shone bright throughout the entire week, as they performed for the R3 closing party, an independent global transformation consultancy hired by CMOs to make their marketing more measurable and accountable to business impact. Established in 2002, R3 has worked with more than 100 companies and the likes of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Heineken, Google, Samsung and Unilever on global, regional and local assignments to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
Lastly after a packed week and to top it all off, Kalpee and Island Wave were invited to attend many showcases and after parties including the Spotify Lounge Party which took place in a warehouse setting with an array of VIP’s including YUNGBLUD, who closed the Music in Universal Party the Night before, the Zendyll S.E.A Showcase which included performances by RRILEY (SG), AE$OP CA$H (SG), Lil J (MY) and The Def Jam Showcase where 15 acts from five countries, including A. Nayaka, ABANGSAPAU, ALYPH, and OG Bobby rounded out the Southeast Asian hip-hop extravaganza.
A mental health advocate, Kalpee, was also invited to speak at the Music Matters Academy panel, Mental Health Matters, alongside Singaporean artist Inch Chua and Canadian artist Chad Price. Earlier this year Kalpee and Island Wave opened the conversation amongst Caribbean men, with a media campaign to bring awareness to Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week, specifically shaped around the male perspective within the Caribbean community. Kalpee was joined by a host of Caribbean men amongst which were, Oritse Williams Founding member of UK group JLS and Grammy Award Winners Artist-Producers Izzy Beats and Walshy Fire.
Check out more about Island Wave via their website: https://www.izaislandwave.com/