Soca music, Afrobeat, dancehall, and a sprinkling of hip hop were the order of the day at the last staging of the breakfast and brunch soiree Daybreak.

Dubbed the all-white edition, it took place at the Chinese Garden at Hope Gardens.

Among its patrons were persons from Corporate Jamaica, visitors from overseas and soca music enthusiasts.

This was the first time that the promoters of the event decided to have a staging outside of a public holiday or weekend.

According to Jywanza Hall of The Network, coordinators of Daybreak, the aim of having the event during the week was strategic to capture a different demographic.

“We had our expectations of tapping into the soca market, and we did. But what impressed us most was the international to local attendees’ ratio which was approximately 60:40,” said Hall.

Michael, a patron from the Cayman Islands, was among those in attendance.

“I had already decided to come to Jamaica for the Carnival and, when I saw this event being advertised, I decided to come with some of my Jamaican friends. It has been a really good experience and I am definitely coming back,” he shared.

Audrey from New York was attending Daybreak for the first time. In her New York accent she declared herself a soca junkie who couldn’t afford to miss the event which she saw being advertised on social media.

“I love soca music, and that’s why I came to this event, because it was so close to the Carnival weekend, and since its my first time here in Jamaica, I am here soaking up the vibes,” she declared before she got into the groove to Allison Hinds’ Roll it Gal.

DJ Cylcone, whose spirited energy always seems to win over patrons, said his set with DJ Lank from Code Red helped to keep the crowd jumping.

“Daybreak has a very up-tempo party vibe and, looking at the crowd, it’s obvious that people came dressed to impress while enjoying the food. The highlight, for me, so far, was my set. It brought that energy and that vibe,” he shared.

Give Me a Try by Sizzla, It’s a Pity by Tanya Stephens, and Shabba Madda Pot by Dexta Daps were among the treats that DJ Lank dished out to the party fanatics.

“Daybreak was surprising to me. Usually when you have an event that starts at 8:00 am people don’t party as much because of the heat. On top of that, people are very chill at all-white events as well. Usually a lot of posing/modelling. So to see the crowd dancing and partying and enjoying themselves was shocking. I couldn’t wait to work. Loved that the crowd came out to enjoy themselves,” said DJ Lank.

He added, “It’s rare that two different sound systems work together as one. The promoters specified that they wanted me to work with Coppershot Cyclone as my MC for the day. So the vibe there was crazy with two different sounds having input on how the round should be played. We ended up fitting a little bit of everything into our set.”

Celebrities from sports and entertainment were among the partygoers. Spotted were singer Denyque, members of Usain Bolt’s A-Team Lifestyle production outfit, Nesta Carter and Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner.

Hall said the objectives of Daybreak were achieved.

“Most definitely, that wouldn’t have been made possible without the exceptional accommodating efforts of Hope Gardens, the continued partnerships with Wisynco, Restaurants of Jamaica, Audi Jamaica, Lion Pride, Chicken and Tings, Kendel Teas, and Starlight Productions.”

He added, “It was a most seamless event execution that provided patrons with ample, free secured parking, smooth admission to entry, pulsating music, delectable local, regional and international cuisine, and mind-blowing decor courtesy of Ashley Miller and Raniese Adams.”

The first Daybreak was held in December 2017. Since then it has grown to become a staple event on the entertainment calendar, expanding into Florida, New York and Atlanta.