Soca Music Guide: 9 Types of Soca Music

Soca music is a modern iteration of calypso music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1970s, particularly in the capital city Port of Spain. Soca artists combine the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of traditional calypso with the music of India and dancehall beats that gained popularity in Trinidad and Tobago during the 1970s. Effectively, soca music is a combination of West Indian and East Indian rhythmic traditions.

Since its inception in Trinidad and Tobago, soca music has also blended into the culture of many other countries, including Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, the Bahamas, Dominica, Guyana, Belize, and the United States (particularly in New York). It tends to thrive in English-speaking countries, as most soca songs are composed with English lyrics. It has notably thrived in Barbados, where stars like Krosfyah, Square One, and Rupee topped the charts throughout the 1990s.

The word "soca" is a portmanteau of "soul of calypso." Trinidadian musician Lord Shorty coined the term after rising to prominence with a 1964 hit called "Cloak and Dagger," later upending the sound of traditional calypso on songs like 1973's "Indrani" and 1975's "Endless Vibrations."

Soca music is distinct from calypso in its use of multi-track recording technology, which allowed soca musicians to commit more sophisticated rhythmic ideas to tape. The music is also distinct for the heavy influence of Indian rhythms, which inspired soca instrumentalists, and American gospel vocals, which inspired singers known as calypsonians.

Soca music is characterized by its fusion of classic calypso idioms with a heavy East Indian influence. Over time, the soca genre has spawned many subgenres, each with its distinctive characteristics.

1. 1. Chutney soca: Chutney soca is one of the most overtly East Indian of the soca subgenres. It features a mixture of English and Hindi lyrics. The term was coined by the Indo-Trini musician Drupatee Ramgoonai to describe her 1987 hit single "Chatnee Soca."
2. 2. Raga soca: Raga soca fuses traditional soca with Jamaican dancehall beats and instrumentation—most notably electric bass and electronic drums. The style is often linked to the calypsonian Bunji Garlin, sometimes called "the King of Ragga Soca."
3. 3. Afrosoca: Like raga soca, Afrosoca draws on the traditions of Jamaican dancehall, but it also leans heavily on the Afrobeat tradition that thrives among Nigerian musicians based in Trinidad and Tobago. The contemporary soca musician Machel Montano is known for his mastery of Afrobeat soca.
4. 4. Groovy soca: Groovy soca tends to be played at a more relaxed pace than other subgenres, offering a blend of soul music with standard soca idioms. Lord Shorty played much of his original soca music at slower tempos, but the phrase "groovy soca" is a twenty-first century term. Famous groovy soca artists include Kes the Band, Alison Hinds, and GBM Nutron.
5. 5. Power soca: Power soca is an upbeat, driving style of soca that is popular in nightclubs throughout Trinidad and Tobago. It is up-tempo and hard-charging. The most famous power soca performer is Superblue, known for the 1991 hit song "Get Something & Wave."
6. 6. Steelband soca: This subgenre is characterized by heavy use of steel pans, an instrument that also factors heavily in traditional calypso. Lord Kitchener was perhaps the most famous steelband soca musician.
7. 7. Parang soca: While most soca music is sung in English (the standard language of calypso), parang soca incorporates Spanish-language lyrics.
8. 8. Bouyon soca: Bouyon soca borrows from the Bouyon rhythms of Dominica. Many Bouyon soca artists hail from St. Lucia, although other famous practitioners come from Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and of course Trinidad and Tobago.
9. 9. Bashment soca: A contemporary form of soca based in Barbados. This relatively new music genre borrows from Jamaican dub culture and features hits like “Waistline Killer” by Destra and "Go Down" by Lil Rick.

Soca combines a traditional calypso sound with East Indian musical concepts and Jamaican dancehall beats. To achieve this hybrid of styles, soca recordings often center around multi-tracked electronic instruments and drum machines. In some soca songs, human vocals are the only melodic instrument. Other songs use electric bass and keyboard synthesizers to establish harmony.

Live performances typically feature live percussion, including a drum set, cowbell, and even found objects like automobile brake drums. Larger soca bands may incorporate a brass section, usually featuring trumpet, trombone, and the occasional saxophone.

Soca is a reimagining of calypso music, and both styles draw heavily on West African drumming and percussion. They also both feature English-language lyrics. Soca, however, has always pulled influences from a greater array of global cultures. Chief among these are the percussion instruments and rhythmic patterns of India, the grooves of Jamaican dub and dancehall, and the vocal intensity of American gospel music. Lyrically, soca's occasional use of Hindi and Spanish lyrics also sets it apart from calypso.

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