Introducing SICKA SESSIONS, Soca DJ mixes curated by Black Women
Left to right: DJ Amy Francesca, Jodie Ollivierre (Founder of SICKA VISION), DJ Chlxxe, DJ Jada-Pink.
Why I Love Soca Music: From Childhood Jams to Cultural Pride
If you’re new here, Hi my name’s Jodie. I’m a Soca loving Caribbean girlie from West London with roots spreading across Grenada and St Vincent you already know that I’ve been a Soca baby from young.
Let me paint you a picture: flashback to my childhood days growing up when my Uncle would come back from holidays in Grenada with those CDs that had no label, just straight marker blue pen with ‘Soca 2004’ written on. These CDs were series and had all the latest hits from that year - If you know, you know. My Uncle would play these CDs on one of those big grey old school stereo systems in the car journeys home and at family BBQs all summer long. It’s always a time for sing along when soca’s playing.
Soca isn’t just music; it’s a soulful connection that I indulge in anytime from my sold out shower jams, gym bobs, soca is the soundtrack to my life!
Now, let’s talk nostalgia. Cue Nani Wine by Crazy, the anthem of my family summer time BBQs (because my Aunties, Uncles and Nanny are all born in the same month). I reminisce on fond memories of this song playing on a hot sunny day whilst I dance in the garden with my Nanny - and yes I would always get her up to wine a likkle.
If you’re anything like me, you would have seen multiple conversations online (especially on Twitter) when it comes to the wider perception of Soca music from those both inside and outside of the culture.
There are 3 groups of people when it comes to Soca, and girl, which one are you?
The Soca Baby: Raised on Soca since birth. It’s a family affair, and we’re here for it!
The Soca Skeptic: Thinks Soca sounds like noise or ‘pots and pans clanging’. (You’ve probably never taken the chance to really listen and find a pocket of Soca you enjoy).
The Carnival-Goer: Only hops on the Soca train during Carnival (yes it’s Carnival NOT Carni).
"Soca is only for carni." 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
— 🇹🇹🇩🇲⚡️AJ ⚡🇩🇲🇹🇹 (@AshMan__J) October 13, 2021
But guess what? It’s time to spread the Soca love 365 days a year. It’s time everybody else gets with the programme. Introducing SICKA SESSIONS, a visual DJ experience featuring an incredible ALL female DJ line-up who absolutely shell it down!
Filmed by the creative mastermind of a videographer that is Daniel, or otherwise known as DB Captures, and co-edited in-house, you already know the visuals are taken care of.
At 8pm tonight SICKA VISION is pleased to share with you, Sicka Soca - 27 minutes of pure riddims, wining and hip shaking, curtesy of the absolute boss babe of a DJ that is Chlxxe (of Dominican and Jamaican heritage). Get your Chromecasts at the ready, this is one to cast on the big screen.
To debut SICKA SESSIONS, we partnered with Whiskey brand Monkey Shoulder which - like the best Soca tunes out there – is designed to be mixed! Soca has a rich history of blending influences from the West Indies, South America, Africa and this joyous sound has become the playlist to Europe’s biggest bacchanal, Notting Hill Carnival - a celebration that welcomes over 2million attendees year on year.
Our partnership with Monkey Shoulder goes beyond just sharing a love for mixing - it's about championing the soul of Soca and the DJs who bring it to life. It’s for this reason that the partnership with Monkey Shoulder felt so suited to what SICKA SESSIONS is all about!
Amy Francesca, Chlxxe, Jada-Pink (Pictured left to right) - Photo credit Saffiah Noel
We specifically wanted an all female DJ line-up for our first ever session, not only to show off and spotlight the incredible talent amongst female DJs as they are often underrepresented in this industry, but to also show just how important women are when it comes to creating a vibe and getting the party started. Women do such a great job of playing for the crowd and getting the ladies dancing, which is what makes a great party after all. Look forward to DJ sets from Amy Francesca and Jada-Pink, coming soon to SICKA VISION.
Lauren From Monkey Shoulder said: “We are proud to support women who are breaking down barriers and challenging stale perceptions of what fresh DJ talent looks like and where Soca music should live.
We’re all proud to raise a glass of Monkey Shoulder and ginger to them, this International Women’s Day.
Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube to stay up to date when new episodes drop.
