Traz Di Jennik tries his hand at soca

For more than 20 years, Traz Di Jennik recorded songs that reflect his reggae-dancehall influences, but late last year, he decided to take a different course by cutting a soca single.

That song, Party Nice, was released in early March. He co-produced the uptempo track with his wife Lydia and Trevor 'Skatta' Bonnick, lead singer of Inner Circle. Party Nice was released to coincide with the start of Carnival season in Jamaica and parts of the eastern Caribbean.

Previously known as Alkatraz, Trez Di Jennik said he grew up listening to Trinidadian calypso/soca giants like The Mighty Sparrow, which was even more motivation to write and record Party Nice.

"Doing a soca song wasn't difficult, it's just showing my versatility. I'm a fan of soca and calypso; I listen to all types of music. Sparrow is my artiste; Saltfish is one of them songs I grew up on," he stated.

The Kingston-born singjay started his career during the 1990s and did songs for top producers such as Steely and Clevie, Donovan Germain and Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes Records.

It was while working with Steely and Clevie that he met Bonnick, former lead singer of the Blood Fire Posse. Bonnick has produced several songs by Traz Di Jennik including Health Over Wealth.