Up-and-coming Trinidadian artist Phia has released a new single, My Side, in collaboration with prolific and seasoned soca artist Orlando Octave. The dancehall and Afrobeats fusion is a love song that advertises the songstress’ lyrical genius, stylistic mastery, and vocal talent.
Phia met Orlando Octave at Pengco Studio. The studio was behind several of her earlier songs, and they were confident that they could propel her to a global stage with this new single. Working with Orlando Octave was an opportunity for her to gain more experience in the music industry. “Orlando is such an awesome, positive, generous person. I really have to thank him for his dedication to this project and his wisdom along the way” she said.
A fan of fusing different music styles, Phia expressed her joy at the openness of Trinidadians to new genres, including hip hop and Afrobeats. She hopes one day to have a global fan base, and is continually experimenting with different genres. She said, “It’s amazing to see how music genres from different cultural backgrounds can come together and make an awesome track. I’m really glad that Afrobeats and hip hop and other genres are fusing”.
The future seems bright for Phia, who is working towards her first album. She feels that leaders should do more to give Caribbean youth a chance to express their creative side. “The creative industries can be a major help in our Caribbean economies. There’s always so much focus on the traditional aspects of education when, in truth and in fact, so many Caribbean youths are dying for the chance to be seen and heard through their art” she said.
