KINGSTON, Jamaica — Noted businessman and CEO of Downsound Entertainment (DSE) Joe Bogdanovich has successfully added Soca to his repertoire by minting a partnership with Bacchanal Jamaica for 2018.

This Bogdanovich’s his first Soca endeavour, and it comes after years of involvement in Jamaica’s Reggae and Dancehall in his capacities as CEO of DSE and organiser of the annul Reggae Sumfest music festival since 2016.

“At Downsound we are interested in a variety of entertainment activities, all underpinned by a message of unity through music” he told OBSERVER ONLINE.

“I believe that Carnival is good for Brand Jamaica, and that it has the potential to become the largest in the Caribbean. This attracts visitors to the island, it boosts the economy, and it boots the spirit of the people,” he added.

The first step in what promises to be a long and fruitful partnership has been to bring Destra, the widely acclaimed ‘Queen of Soca’, to perform on the Mas Camp stage tonight (March 23), for the final installment of Bacchanal Jamaica’s six-series party carnival event of 2018.

“Destra is the leading female soca artiste in the Caribbean and without doubt one of the most prolific artistes from that genre,” Bogdanovich noted.

“The younger market loves soca, as much as they love Reggae and Dancehall. There are a lot of dancehall and soca collaborations and the patrons really love it. Therefore, I believe the possibility of joint promotions for both events will expand the audience’s reach, which is good for business,” he noted.

This Carnival season, the Reggae Sumfest brand will be very present, with a fully branded and decorated truck at the road march with host DJs Team Shella and Chromatic who will be delivering Soca music blended with some Reggae and Dancehall.

“I became interested in the Jamaican entertainment scene because of the energy and the passion that I saw: It is intoxicating. Carnival may not be native to Jamaica, but it has been embraced here and infused with some unique Jamaican characteristics; which is why the partnership between DSE and Bacchanal Jamaica is so ideal,” he pointed out.

He said that the Reggae Sumfest brand is symbolic of great Jamaican entertainment which, coupled with Bacchanal, will produce an “amazing and authentically Jamaican experience”. ,p> Balford Henry