5 Questions With GBM Nutron

Fresh off the release of his latest track, Carnival Darling, Trini-soca artiste GBM Nutron is gearing up for an exciting season. He noted that many Jamaicans were in Trinidad for carnival and got a taste of the new music, so they can expect something special from him and his team. No stranger to Jamaica’s carnival scene, he’s bringing even more energy, music, and vibes to the road this year. Born in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, GBM Nutron, whose real name is Jason Carter, blends multiple genres to celebrate Caribbean culture.

In 2017, Nutron released his debut album Calypso: The Unsung Legacy, which peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. A song from the album called Scene also appeared in episode four of the Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It. Following his performance at the recent Campari Carnival launch, he sat down with The Gleaner to discuss his carnival plans, musical influences, and dream collaborations in this week’s 5 Questions With …

1. What keeps bringing you back to Jamaica?

Honestly, it’s amazing to see another Caribbean island embracing soca music. I hail from Trinidad and Tobago, always repping the red, white, and black, but I also live abroad and represent in New York and Brooklyn. I have a lot of Jamaican friends and family, and seeing soca and carnival culture being celebrated here is just incredible. Outside of that, how can you not love Jamaica?

2. Where is your favourite place to visit in the Caribbean, and what’s your go-to meal there?

I love going home — crab and dumpling is amazing! But outside of home, I’ve enjoyed great food in Antigua. Basically, like Caribbean seafood, but you know what? I’ve had good food here in Jamaica as well. Of course, I love jerked chicken even though my friends, basically, beat me down for trying jerked chicken in other places outside of Jamaica. So once I come to Jamaica, I must try some jerked chicken.

3. Your music blends soca with several other genres. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Growing up I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson and Gloria Estefan. I had some of the greats always in rotation. And, personally, I end up just kinda really falling in love with Machel Montano’s style of soca, Bunji Garlin’s style of soca, and, you know, more contemporary artistes like Rihanna and Drake. So it’s just a whole mix-up. You know, I like a couple country artistes, and stuff, as well. So just a whole mix-up of different genres that I would have gotten conditioned to from then to now.

4. Which dancehall or reggae artiste would you like to collaborate with, and why?

I think Sean Paul is somebody that I would definitely love to do a collab with because I think our styles would complement each other. I’m kinda more on the groovy side, but he has a kind of high-energy performance and sound. And, of course, I mean, just saying, I’m totally in love with the Jamaican princess, queen-to-be, Shenseea! Shen Yeng! Oh, God! Yes! I know she’s done soca before, so I know she would be amazing. I would love to hear her collaborate with a soca male.

5. What are your plans for Jamaica’s carnival road march this year, and where can revellers and fans find you?

I will be jumping this carnival for sure with Xodus – all day. Big up to Yard Mas Carnival same way. I honestly don’t know which events I’ll be at just yet as I don’t know them off the top of my head. But what I would say is that the fans could tap into my Instagram – @gbmnutron_official –and from there, you will see the events. You will see me posting about events, about appearances, and where I’m gonna be for the carnival season here in Jamaica this year.

o’brian.wynter@gleanerjm.com