{"id":3254,"date":"2020-09-08T11:04:46","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T11:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lauradowrich.com\/?p=3254"},"modified":"2021-08-09T19:31:23","modified_gmt":"2021-08-09T19:31:23","slug":"with-new-album-kes-the-band-seeks-to-broaden-socas-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lauradowrich.com\/with-new-album-kes-the-band-seeks-to-broaden-socas-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"With new album, Kes the Band seeks to broaden soca’s appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
On August 31, while American R&B stars Monica and Brandy gave the Verzuz platform its highest number of views on Instagram \u2014 1.2 million\u2014Kes the Band was entertaining soca fans from Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soca band drew over 500,000 viewers across its social media platforms and the Tego app, for what was a concert to celebrate T&T\u2019s 58th Independence anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The live show coincided with the launch of the band\u2019s fifth full-length album, aptly titled We Home, and featured appearances from Nailah Blackman, Jimmy October, Erphaan Alves, Voice and Iwer George, all of whom have collaborated with Kes the Band frontman Kees Dieffenthaller in recent years, the last four in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the concert deemed the best live event since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were put in place, KTB has sealed its reputation as one of soca’s top acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a reputation that has been on a slow build since 2010 when the band took advantage of Machel Montano\u2019s absence that Carnival to step into the spotlight as a unit to be reckoned with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, the band has built a catalogue of hits \u2014 ‘Wotless’ (2011), ‘Where Yuh From’ (2011), ‘Stress Away’ (2012), \u2018Tuesday On The Rocks’ (2013), ‘Can\u2019t Wait'(2013), ‘Siddung’ (2014), ‘Endless Summer’ (2014), ‘Fallin’ (2015), ‘People\u2019 (2016), ‘Body Talk’ featuring Chris Hierro (2016), ‘Incredible’ (2017, ‘Workout’ featuring Nailah Blackman (2017), ‘Hello’ (2018), ‘I Shall Return’ (2018), ‘Savannah Grass’ (2019), ‘Close To Me’ featuring Shenseea (2019), ‘Totally’ (2019), ‘Stage Gone Bad’ with Iwer George (2020), ‘Dear Promoter’ with Voice (2020), ‘Magic’ featuring Jimmy October and Etienne Charles (2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the way, Dieffenthaller has racked up a Groovy Soca title for ‘Wotless’ and the 2020 joint Road March title for ‘Stage Gone Bad’. That song also earned Iwer George the 2020 International Soca Monarch title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now with new management in the form of international management duo Damon DeGraff and Evan Vogel and a new label, US-based Ineffable Records, Kes the Band is looking to expand its presence and following globally as well as that of soca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not the first attempt the band has made to make its name on a global stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n