GUYANESE soca artiste Jonathan King, better known by his stage name ‘Lil Red’, released an album last week titled ‘The Beginning’.

This album is indeed a beginning for him as it was recognized by an international record label ‘VP Records’, who has now signed a deal with the young artiste, to distribute the album internationally.

VP Records is an independent record label in Queens, New York and is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca.
This is a great achievement for the 25-year-old and he is over the moon with great expectations. He has high hopes of going places with this album, and be able to go on the international stage, performing, touring and showing the world Guyana’s style of soca music.

Lil Red said that though the album will indeed mark a new beginning in his career, the name of the album was actually inspired by the beginning of Guyana’s Carnival.
The young artiste explained that the album comprises nine songs that were produced by Drew Thoven for Guyana’s first Carnival this year. He said that these nine songs are also of the beginning set out of the forty-one songs that Drew produced.
Given the aforementioned, Lil Red said that the name represents the starting point of Guyana’s Carnival journey.

The young artiste, who is under the management of Vizion Sounds Records, is the offspring of Guyana’s Soca Queen, ‘Big Red’. With music in his bloodline, he has made tremendous contributions to Guyana’s music industry with his exceptional talent.
He has competed five times in our local Soca Monarch, making it through to the finals each time.

Lil Red says he is inspired by the love he has for music and the love he has for bringing positive energy amongst people who hear his music.

“It gives me great pleasure to make people feel good and be lost in a place of happiness, forgetting their everyday struggle. People tend to see soca music as lawless, but the energy and vibes it brings over you cannot be ignored,” Lil Red said.
And with that he wants to continue producing music that makes a positive impact on people’s lives.

“To be one of the most positive soca artsite in the world is what I’m aiming to be. To take away this ‘lawless’ stigma that soca music has and produce ones that people from all race, religion and culture will enjoy… Like Voice, the Trinidadian Soca King. I believe he suits my image. I just want to uplift the people,” he said.

Adding that “I disregard negativity and I just keep pushing to pursue your goals. When you love something, you put your all into it. You might not get anything in return right away, but the blessings will come. So I will be patient will all the investments that I have made and be thankful for these little opportunities, and I know I will reap the rewards in the long run.”