Martian Music Propels Soca into the Mainstream (Music Inside)
MARTIAN MUSIC PROPELS SOCA
INTO THE MAINSTREAM
New Release ‘Carnival: A Story About A Story’
Gets Top Billing on iTunes U.S.
New York, NY – Trinidadian hit production house Martian Music propels soca into the mainstream with its new release Carnival: A Story About A Story, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers (released on September 30, 2014), from FOX FUSE. The compilation of hits is a best-of Martian Music from this year’s Trinidad Carnival season and receives top billing on the iTunes U.S. Reggae homepage. Not only is the album featured on the iTunes U.S. Reggae Albums New & Noteworthy chart since its release two weeks ago, but it is also currently featured atop the iTunes U.S. Reggae homepage with a spotlight banner, during this second week of release.
Martian Music was established in 2007 by producer Erikkson Kendel George AKA Don Iko, who has been crafting beats and hit tunes for over eight years now. He first started off as a radio deejay before venturing into music production, producing jingles and commercials for all the biggest fetes and concerts in Trinidad. His exciting take on soca music is making Martian Music a household name in soca music today.
“I am very happy about the attention the album is receiving, it’s good that the spotlight can shine over an album of this genre,” Don Iko reveals. “It’s a good look not only for Martian Music and me as a producer, but also for soca music on the whole.”
Since signing to FOX FUSE for worldwide digital distribution in July, Martian Music has seen the vast majority of its catalog released through the label featured on iTunes in the U.S., including Bad Influence Riddim, Oil Drum Riddim, Double Up Riddim and Girl Scout Riddim. This mass attention from mainstream outlets such as iTunes confirms Don Iko has his fingers on the pulse of soca.
Martian Music also just debuted its first official release for the 2015 Trinidad Carnival season with the already ultra-popular Day Fete Riddim, available worldwide from all major digital retailers on October 21, with pre-order available now, from FOX FUSE. Proclaiming Don Iko’s love for daytime parties (which are quite popular in Trinidad & Tobago especially during carnival season), the Day Fete Riddim features new party anthems from soca stars Farmer Nappy, Destra Garcia, Nadia Batson and Lyrikal.
Don Iko’s style is all-encompassing as he covers the spectrum, implementing traditional soca beats, modern contemporary soca, pop and EDM flavors into his productions. “I am different from everyone else in that I listen to everything that is being done music-wise and try to anticipate the next step and get ahead of it.” And his sentiments are proving to be true as Martian Music consistently stays at the forefront of the genre, having had songs in the International Soca Monarch finals every year since 2008.
“As a producer, as cliche as it may sound, I wish to do my part to help soca music become mainstream and not just seasonal,” Don Iko discloses. “I also want to do my part in grooming future stars.” With the international spotlight shining on his productions, Don Iko is proving he indeed has the golden touch when it comes to soca and this translates not only to the success of Martian Music, but also, the global growth of soca music.
