Words by Gab Soul
Earlier this week, we got to know Trinidad’s young virtuoso Jimmy October and the fresh sound he calls “New Calypso.” After introducing us to his self-coined genre on his EP, Vacation, Jimmy is back to take us on a nostalgic trip into a distant memory with his newest single, “Remember the Days.”
When I first met Jimmy, his music was nothing I’d ever heard before. I immediately thought: This is the future of Trinidad’s music we’ve been waiting for. He infuses an authentic nod to his roots and calypso instrumentation, with influences from modern R&B and Afropop. Similar to the storytelling calypsonians that came before him, Jimmy uses his “Remember the Days” lyrics and visuals to tell a coming-of-age story about better days, and the memories of a love affair during a more carefree time in his life. The video also gives us a look outside of the typical Carnival music scene, and highlights how the younger generation of Trinidad gets down.
Stream “Remember the Days,” out now via Protoje’s In.Digg.Nation Collective label and LA-based Delicious Vinyl Island, and check out the video — directed by Akim Richards and Nevaun Fabien — exclusively premiering here.