Yes! We Have Soca in Europe
Interview with Dj Mika Raguaa
INTERVIEW
“SOCA MUSIC CAN UNITE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE THROUGH ONE GENRE”
… Language borders can’t stop her.
“I AM NOT ONLY A DJ SPECIALIZED ON CARIBBEAN MUSIC — I AM A MUSIC PRESENTER”
... Since more than eight years she is blazing Reggae, Dancehall and Soca across the countries...
The enchantress is playing in clubs, on festivals and as road DJ on carnival trucks. She connects artists, producers and DJs worldwide. Beside she is releasing mixtapes and live-sets — frequently with a special background. From time to time you can also hear her on international radio stations.
Also she is active as creative designer and a studied scientist for media and communication — with a focus on studies about the development of Caribbean music culture and digital influences.
“MY ❤️ BELONGS TO SOCA MUSIC”
The music is helping her to feel like in the middle of all carnival happenings at once and let loose. The positivity of the music, instruments and tempo is what she loves beside all traditions.
She exposed a lot of different carnival events worldwide — not only an inspiration for her musical work.
During an event at Notting Hill Carnival in London in 2015 she realized how important it is to support local talents in Soca music representing it so far away from the Caribbean itself. But…
“What happened after Soca music left the Caribbean and got in touch with the European continent?”
“YES! WE HAVE SOCA IN EUROPE”
The number of Soca events on the European side is growing and also Carnival is celebrated — but also in many different kinds. London, as one of the most popular base for Caribbean music culture, is only one example.
60 featured artists out of 11 countries in 7 languages
Through the contacts she raised in acting in music business and with the big blessing of knowing more than only one languages, (..Mika is speaking French and Spanish also) she started to find out what kind of productions have been released and got in touch with the artists personally to get more information about their backgrounds and their music.
The result was the mixtape “BLAZE A TRAIL ACROSS COUNTRIES” and an article about the EUROPEAN SOCA MOVEMENT.
60 featured artits from 11 different countries and also some small specials that have been recorded especially for this production. Seven different languages are possible to be heard, which includes next to English also French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Swiss-German and Dutch.
The mixtape and the article are showing that the music and diversity of Soca music went more far than even thought and also its showing that the trend of Soca music produced in Europe uprising.
She talks about a 2016 Soca release from Russia based on the Zumba Riddim — released for Spice Mas in Grenada.
“I WANTED TO TAKE THE MUSIC BACK TO THE CARIBBEAN & SO I DID”
On journeys to Trinidad and Tobago she brought the music to another level.
Mikas first steps in the Caribbean brought medial responses and on her second journey her focus was introducing the European Soca Movement with success. It was discussed with nationals and got reviewed on radio stations.
“My skin color or my gender shouldn’t stop me from doing my work in presenting music — only because it is coming from a different culture”
DJ Mika Raguaa will be performing as Road DJ for CHOCOLATE NATION MAS & ARAWAK CARNIVAL in London (UK). For 2017 she is looking forward to spend more time in the Caribbean and engross her thoughts and studies. The first step to it is an upcoming mixtape:
ONE KRIBBEAN
ISLANDS TOGETHER
KRIBBEAN is glad to introduce the cooperation with DJ Mika Raguaa for the mixtape “ONE KRIBBEAN — islands together” presenting Soca music from all Caribbean Islands in one composition. It will be released in the beginning of August 2016. The cover design will be done by the versatile illustrator Raymond Sebastien.
The achievement is a wider sight for the music on less known Caribbean countries. Also here language borders will be crossed. It is not only the idea to give also smaller labels a spot and raise a respect for it.
I am looking forward for a great music production for you & Soca lovers worlwide!
MikaRaguaa.com | Facebook | Instagram | Mixcloud | Soundcloud
Thank you KRIBBEAN for your support and for your ideas of authenticity
More than a place.. a way of living!
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