Not many Jamaican artists have had success with soca songs, but singer Traz Di Jennik believes he has a winner in ‘Party Nice’. Released in early March, the track is co-produced by Traz Di Jennik, his wife Lydia Campbell and Trevor “Skatta” Bonnick, lead singer of the Inner Circle Band.
‘Party Nice’ was released just ahead of Carnival season in Jamaica, and similar festivities in the Eastern Caribbean.
After years of recording dancehall-reggae songs as ‘Alkatraz’, he went for a change in moniker and recently, a new musical direction.
“Doing a soca song wasn’t difficult, it’s just showing my versatility. I’m a fan of soca and calypso; I listen to all types of music. Sparrow is my artist, ‘Saltfish’ is one of them songs I grew up on,” Traz Di Jennik said.
When bandleader Byron Lee launched Jamaica Carnival during the 1980s, he successfully fused Trinidadian soca with dancehall music. Collaborating with deejay Admiral Bailey, he had a big hit single with ‘Dancehall Soca’ late that decade.
‘Party Nice’ is the follow-up to ‘Health Over Wealth’, a rootsy song Traz Di Jennik recorded in 2022, with Bonnick as producer.
From Portland parish in eastern Jamaica, he started his recording career as Alkatraz in 1995 with ‘Better Days’, produced by Steely and Clevie. He also recorded songs for leading labels such as Penthouse Records and Shocking Vibes Productions.
