-hopes to push new song during Trinidad Carnival, Mashramani 2025

SOCA music is a blend of African and East Indian rhythms that developed into a popular musical style in Trinidad in 1970 and since then, it has evolved tremendously.

While Soca was born in Trinidad, many countries around the Caribbean (including Guyana) have adopted the fast pace sound, helping to promote it worldwide.

Pahjo, a Guyanese musician who resides in the United Kingdom, is currently promoting his song, ‘Identity’ featuring popular Soca artiste ‘Problem Child’.

Pahjo whose given name is Patrick Joseph was born in Georgetown Guyana; however, at the age of 19, he moved to England where his career in music began.

In an exclusive interview with the Buzz, he stated that he drew inspiration for the lyrics of his new single from a programme on transgenders and their identity. The song celebrates unity, revelry and self-expression and invites partygoers to embrace their true identities and let loose in the spirit of carnival.

Pahjo said it has been an amazing journey. “This song …we released it first on BBC Extra in the UK. So, I had the privilege of being in the same room with Farmer Nappy, Nyla Blackman, Problem Child, when we took over the BBC for Notting Hill Carnival and we released it there.”

He remarked that the song has “grown its own legs” over the past two weeks.

It was mentioned that they have already hit just about 45,000 streams on Spotify. This response, he pointed out has been fantastic.

With a few media houses in Trinidad already promoting the song, Pahjo and his team began their search for media houses in Guyana to do the same.

“We’ll be pushing this song right through. I would love to know that it gets its fair amount of play in Guyana over the CPL Cricket Carnival because I’m not able to make it down this year,” he said.

The hope is to push ‘Identity’ into Trinidad during Carnival and in Guyana during Mashramani 2025. The song is backed and led by CARICOM Music’s Executive Producer, Gareth Sinnerine.

Pahjo has a catalog of more than 30 Soca tracks over the past five years. His first single is called ‘Ah Mas’, which was produced by a longtime school friend, and popular local music producer Joel Browne- Joey2Kool Productions.

It was this single that catapulted his music career and where it was realised that he had a natural gift with the pen. Since then, Pahjo has written for many artistes.

In 2023, he won the Best Male Soca Artiste Award at the Demroc Music Awards.

He has an aim to become a strong force in the Soca fraternity and assist in developing the Guyanese Soca music industry.

Pahjo expressed, “I will always work with Guyanese if they’re willing to work. I’m willing to put in the work, but I just need to know that people are serious and respect my time and my craft too. I’ve been stung by a few, I’m not calling names, who have a very entitled way whereby they expect that everything will be given to them, whereby for me is like, well, it needs to be earned.”

Pahjo has worked with local artistes such as Omaiah Hall, Nekeita, OKC, Carlvin Burnette, among many others.

To stream the new song and other music from Pahjo, Soca fans can search for Pahjo Music on any musical streaming platform. Additionally, he can be found on Instagram: Pahjo Music Official, and Facebook: Pahjo Music.