Kingstown, St. Vincent – May 30, 2024 – In a sunlit studio adorned with instruments and sound equipment, Lester Iroha, a celebrated soca music producer, welcomed Asberth News Network for an exclusive interview. The room buzzed with the energy of creativity and passion, much like the man himself. Known for his innovative approach to music, Lester shared the story of his journey, influences, and the nuances of producing soca music.
Finding Inspiration in Family and Tradition
Lester began by reminiscing about his early love for music. “I got my love for music from my father, an audiophile, who exposed me to a wide cross-section of musical genres from an early age, ranging from Pop, Latin, Classical to Calypso,” he recalled, his eyes lighting up with fond memories. “My introduction to the Steel Pan when I attended the St. Vincent Grammar School also ignited a new level of music love and participation.”
His influences read like a who’s who of soca legends: “I have always been a huge fan of Soca music, with inspiration coming from the likes of Touch, Becket, Blaksand, Rebels, Machel Montano, Krosfyah, Burning Flames, Iwer George, and Square One.”
The Art of Crafting a Soca Track
When asked about his process for producing a soca track, Lester leaned forward, passion evident in his voice. “For me, it starts with an inspiration,” he said. “This could be a drum or percussive pattern/beat, an instrument/synth, a melody, sound, or chord progression that instantly sparks an idea to build on.”
He described how he layers percussions, guitars, synths, brass, strings, and basslines to bring his ideas to life. “Finally, I make sure each element of the instrumental has its own space on the frequency spectrum, ensuring that no two elements are competing for the same frequency. This makes the track audibly cleaner with less mud in your final mix,” he explained with a technical precision that underscored his expertise.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
Incorporating traditional Caribbean instruments and rhythms into modern soca productions is a hallmark of Lester’s work. “I always have a considerable amount of percussive instruments like iron, cowbell, and conga drums as a foundation,” he noted. “For me, this adds a lot of energy to an instrumental.”
However, innovation comes with challenges. “Songs with slower tempos tend not to do well in SVG, as tracks of a faster nature tend to dominate,” he admitted. “Songs with a proper chord progression and/or chord change are also not well received here, which often stifles creativity.”
Live Instrumentation vs. Digital Sounds
The debate between live instrumentation and digital sounds is one Lester navigates with ease. “It depends on the project, the objective, or the intended style,” he said. “An old-school flavored Ragga Soca or a Zouk-inspired track would benefit from live instrumentation, whereas a more pop-inspired production may lean towards synthesizers and computer-based sounds.”
Current Trends and Future Prospects
Discussing current trends, Lester observed, “Whatever is popular tends to heavily inspire the current trends. For example, Jab Jab heavily influenced our music the same as Bouyon music now heavily influences the trend.”
Memorable Moments and Collaborative Spirit
Reflecting on his career, 2016 stood out as a particularly memorable year. “I had productions that won the Soca Monarch, Ragga Soca Monarch, and Roadmarch titles that year,” he said, pride evident in his voice.
Lester also spoke about his approach to collaboration. “A lot of new upcoming talent tends to seek me out on their own, plus I normally reach out to artists who I can envision being a good match to a riddim that I may produce,” he explained. “Artists keep in contact with me for the purpose of forwarding instrumentals as you never know which one may spark/inspire the artist to write a hit.”
Advice for Aspiring Producers
To aspiring soca producers, Lester offered sage advice. “Pay attention to the hits, analyze and break them down in your head to understand why that production is a hit,” he advised. “Having some basic knowledge of music fundamentals like chords and chord progressions is a priceless tool in this art form.”
Gaining International Recognition
Lester concluded with thoughts on soca music’s global reach. “Soca’s biggest issue is its diversity in style and tempo, which makes it very difficult for the outside world to identify the genre as a whole,” he observed thoughtfully.
As the interview wrapped up, it was clear that Lester Iroha’s passion and dedication to soca music continue to drive his innovative spirit. His journey, rooted in tradition yet boldly innovative, stands as an inspiration for future generations of soca producers.