Multi-faceted Caribbean artist, Kalpee, drops his latest single, ‘Island Gyal’, accompanied by a cinematic video shot on Las Cuevas beach in Kalpee’s native of Trinidad & Tobago. Directed by Josiah Persad, the visual boasts the beauty of the tropical island, capturing the energy of carnival and the essence of island life, vivid with colour and celebration.

The genre-blending track is sonically nostalgic while managing to remain universally contempo, with traditional instrumentation such as steel pan playing alongside Kalpee’s smooth R&B vocal and a steady rhythmic back-beat. Kalpee is part of a new generation of Caribbean musicians pushing a fresh tropical sound aptly named ‘New Calypso’, delivering a modern fusion of Calypso, dancehall and reggae rhythm, laced with rock inspired guitar riffs and supported by soulful melodies.

Of ‘Island Gyal’, Kalpee said: “I wanted this song to feel nostalgic, light and fun, ‘cause that's what the islands remind me of. The music feels so much like home, blending genres like calypso and dancehall together and incorporating instruments like steel pan and brass, that remind me of Trini carnival.” He explains how the track came to be, “The idea for the song started in Barbados and then I had to go back home to Trinidad, to capture the energy I thought was necessary for the track. As I landed in Trini, I linked up with my bro, Tano, who at the time had recently built his studio. I hadn’t seen him since before Covid happened, so I played him the idea of ‘Island Gyal’ and we immediately just started collaborating, vibing, talking about memories, about carnival and how sad it was that didn't happen and I think that was the inspiration that helped us finish the song.”