The Style & Vibes Podcast

Women Who Built Reggae And Dancehall

Chat to me!We celebrate the women who set the foundation and keep reggae and dancehall going. Spanning across decades, organized by a living list by impact rather than era. From trailblazers to dominators, we trace sound, image, and industry shifts while calling for continued support.In this episode we discuss:• Why impact-based categories reveal truer influence• Highlight trailblazers who normalized women at center stage• Discuss how groundbreakers shaped by video and production advances• crossovers, samples, and global bridges• How culture contributors across music, dance helped build brand Jamaica• Dig into how fusionists blend pop, R&B, hip-hop, EDM• The new wave of artist pushing the boundaries in branding and marketing in a streaming-first world• How hit songstresses whose singles still rule • How dominators sustaining scale, charts, and carry the culture• Why collective shine beats the “only one” mythCheck out full list on Style & Vibes  Support the showStyle & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookProduced by Breadfruit Media

Dre Island, Piano Prodigy To Reggae Messenger, Talks Timeless Music

Chat to me!Producer-turned-artist, Dre Island channels real life experiences and prayer to create music that resonates for today and tomorrow. We discuss his upbringing, shaped by classical piano, Stone Love sound system nights, gospel harmonies, and the distilled “top ten” diet of Jamaica’s radio that trained his ear for greatness. Dre flows in between sharing his own stories to the inspiration that surrounds him, his poignant care in storytelling shows not just in his music, but through conversation.  We discuss his popular collaboration “We Pray” with Popcaan including the bold choice to leak the record and let the people decide. Dre explains how visuals amplified the story months later, his debut album "Now I Rise" released in 2020 showcased his versatility and growth as an artist.Dre shares why positive music grows slowly and lasts longer, and how he avoids dating his catalog so each song feels brand new to first-time listeners years down the road. He shares studio tales behind “Nice Again” and “Situation,” where a beat built for someone else and a real-life phone call turned into records that balance melody, DJ cadence, and clean, modern production. Along the way, he nods to mentors like Buju Banton and breaks down tasteful sampling that honors the source while speaking to today.At the heart of it all is love—learned at home, witnessed in community, and now channeled into an upcoming project devoted to spiritual and romantic uplift. We talk about staying focused in a noisy era, adapting promotion from radio to social without chasing gimmicks, and building live culture in Connecticut with family-friendly events like Reggae and the Rice and Rubber Dub Fridays. If you care about timeless songwriting, authentic storytelling, and the evolution of reggae in the age of streaming and social media, this conversation will light a fire. Support the showStyle & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookProduced by Breadfruit Media

Naomi Cowan: How A Hit Song Became An Album And A Love Letter To Reggae

Chat to me!We welcome the Paradise Plum, Naomi Cowan back to unpack the heart behind her debut album, Welcome To Paradise. Inside the studio with producer Toddla T and co-writers like Runkus, she found a collaborative space where her vision held, her pen stayed sharp, and the sound fused lover’s rock warmth, subtle dancehall undertones, and modern storytelling. We dig into the album’s cohesive arc, the intimate interludes featuring her parents, and how family history roots the record in a lineage you can hear.Paradise isn’t a place on a brochure; it’s a feeling you experience through community, love, and the music that carries you there. Naomi shares how portraying music legend Marcia Griffiths in the Bob Marley biopic re-centered her commitment to making a fully reggae album, free from trend-chasing and built for longevity. The conversation turns to a deep introspection love—romantic, communal, and self-directed.  Naomi shares her perspective on how today's culture treats independence as a badge of honor without the context of its potential isolation. She makes the case that partnership is a spiritual practice, that real growth requires letting others in, and that reggae remains a living vessel for these truths. We also celebrate the sisterhood rising in reggae with artists like Sevana, Jaz Elise and Lila Iké, showing how authenticity dissolves competition and strengthens the scene. Along the way, Naomi opens up about performing the new songs, balancing album promotion with relief efforts after Hurricane Melissa, and why this project is meant to grow on human time, not algorithm time. Support the showStyle & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookProduced by Breadfruit Media

Voicemail's Kevyn and Qraig talk Dancehall Roots with Global Reach

Chat to me!Two voices, one legacy, and a catalog that ignites dancehall to tek it to the dance floor every time their songs are played. In this episode I sit down with dancehall group Voicemail to unpack the spontaneous birth of their name, the unlikely path from R&B harmonies to dancehall dominance, and the creative spark behind "Weddy Time"—guided by producer Danny Champagne and inspired by Bogle’s dance moves. What follows is a rare, candid look at joy, grief, and the unbreakable thread that ties performers to fans across decades.Kevyn and Qraig take us inside the shift from five members to three, then to the duo we know today, revealing how they rebuilt their sound without losing the heart that made them. They share why Japan became a second home for their music, how a structured rollout amplified their reach, and the practical playbook young artists need now: align with the right partners, think beyond a small home market, and let quality lead because value attracts opportunity. We also discuss dancehall in the digital age—how constant access dissolved mystery, why playlists weakened artist-fan bonds, and what it takes to rebuild real community that lasts.There’s humor, vulnerability, and plenty of hard-earned wisdom: setting boundaries with love, crafting solo projects, Qraig with Me And Di Gal Dem and Kevyn with SKILLVCHI under the Voicemail banner, and remembering to celebrate the wins instead of sprinting past them. If you care about dancehall culture, artist longevity, or the craft of connecting with an audience in a crowded world, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention.If this moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves dancehall, and leave a review telling us your favorite Voicemail track and why—it helps more listeners find conversations like this. Support the showStyle & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookProduced by Breadfruit Media

2025 Caribbean Music Awards Unpacked

Chat to me!The 2025 Caribbean Music Awards makes its television debut on BET, and we're breaking down every moment from our dual perspective as both live attendees and television viewers. This milestone broadcast marks a crucial step forward in recognizing Caribbean artists on mainstream platforms, delivering a carefully edited showcase of Caribbean excellence.Dyschick joins me to compare our in-person experience at Brooklyn's King's Theater with the television broadcast, revealing what made the cut and what didn't. We dive into standout performances, particularly praising the energetic opening from Elephant Man and Ding Dong, and the dynamic staging of Full Blown, Machel & Ayetian and Good Spirits that transformed the stage into a Caribbean block party. Busta Rhymes' powerful acceptance speech emerges as a highlight, perfectly articulating why Brooklyn during Labor Day weekend serves as the ideal backdrop for celebrating Caribbean musical achievement.Fashion takes center stage in our conversation as we celebrate the stunning looks that graced the red carpet. From Nyla Blackman's elegant dress paired with a carnival-inspired backpack to Lady Lava's structured ensemble, Caribbean artists showcased their distinctive style.Looking toward future ceremonies, we advocate for broader representation across the entire Caribbean, including more French and Spanish-speaking artists, enhanced production values, and stronger participation from sponsors, particularly Caribbean tourism boards and brands who should recognize these musicians as their most powerful cultural ambassadors. Join us for this celebratory yet thoughtful analysis of a landmark moment for Caribbean music on the global stage. Support the showStyle & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookProduced by Breadfruit Media