Ringbang

Ringbang is variously a Caribbean fusion of music genres, a philosophy, and an aesthetic^[1] propounded by Eddy Grant in 1994.

In an interview ca. 2000, Grant defined ringbang thus:

In applying ringbang to music, Grant attempted to define a meta-style purported to encompass all Caribbean rhythms such as to create a musical lingua franca. He wished this multicultural style to place no restrictions on instrumentation, and he said that he wanted no single country or culture to lay claim to it.^[2] Among ringbang's stylistic influences are calypso, reggae, soca, tuk, and zouk.

Grant reports that the word ringbang comes from vocalists scat singing "Ringa-ringa-ringbang!", and that he chose the word one day in 1993, while standing in recording engineer Frank Agarrat's backyard in Trinidad.^[1]

Ringbang music

In an attempt to popularize ringbang music and its underlying philosophy, Grant asked various recording artists to apply the word (which he trademarked)^[3][4] to some of their songs. Barbadian recording artists Grynner, Square One, Viking Tundah, and others recorded ringbang tracks for Grant's record label, Ice Records. Ice Records published some of these as album tracks, while others were published on a short sequence of ringbang compilations: Fire in de Wave (1994), Ringbang Rebel Dance (1995), and Ringbang Revolution (1996).

On New Year's Eve 1999, Grant hosted a concert on Tobago called Ringbang Celebration 2000, at which he performed with the Frontline Orchestra. The event drew approximately 11,000 people, and featured performances from artists from Antigua, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.^[5] Calypso legend Lord Kitchener's brief appearance at the event was his final time onstage, as he died the following February.

In March 2003, Ice Records published Ringbang 4 Kids, Indra Rudder's first studio album.

See also

• African aesthetic
• Caribbean Carnival
• List of Caribbean music genres

References