Guyanese singer Nesta, a many-time Calypso Queen in her country, continues the quest to make her name in dancehall music with Ride, a song produced by Jamaican Damion “Jkeez” Hewitt.

Released in late 2025, it is also Nesta’s latest solo dancehall song, having previously collaborated with Tarrus Riley on Body Callin and Nigy Boy on Chocolate Boy. The response to those singles were positive enough for her to take another crack at the genre.

“Dancehall has always been part of my musical upbringing. Growing up in Guyana, we’re heavily influenced by Caribbean sounds, especially Jamaican music. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and pay homage to a genre that’s bold, confident,and expressive,” Nesta told the Observer Online.

Ride is written by Kapa Shanti, a Guyanese singer/musician who does reggae and soca.

Nesta (real name Ernesta Nelson) is from Demerara, a sugar belt region in northern Guyana famous for producing chocolate and a rum that bears its name.

Although her career has been largely built around calypso and soca, Essence, a lovers rock reggae song, is one of Nesta’s best-known singles. Released in 2015, it is produced by Darrell Pugsley, another Guyanese who has had success with reggae acts like Natural Black.

Nesta says while hometown fans still show love for her soca songs, they have warmed to her change of pace on tracks like Ride.

“The support has been amazing. Guyanese people are proud to see one of their own exploring dancehall and representing internationally. They see it as Caribbean unity rather than competition,” Nesta stated.

-Howard Campbell