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Don’t call it a comeback! Trinidad and Tobago’s iconic boy band H2O PHLO has been in the business for years—since 1992, to be exact. Fans have been asking when they would hear new holiday material from the men behind popular tunes such as Christmas By Ya Door and their hit collaboration Christmas With You, featuring Scrunter. Now, the group has answered that call with its latest release, One More Christmas Together.
It has been well over a decade since Keston Rosales, Junior Nelson, Audie Hewitt and Jason “Fridge” Seecharan reunited, making the release a cause for celebration.
“We had to answer the call,” Jason tells us. “We came together to do this for the true H2O PHLO fans.”
Music crosses borders
Bringing everyone back into the fold after so much time meant aligning four busy lives in different countries. Junior said a project had always been on the cards, but it was a matter of finding the right concept.
“It was a matter of how and what are we gonna do, which is where Mark Abouhamad came in with this beautiful concept—One More Christmas Together. After hearing it I don’t think anyone of us could’ve said no to such a fabulous idea.”
Things progressed smoothly behind the scenes, thanks to modern studio set-ups and a brotherhood spanning time and space.
“Not being in the same country really wasn’t much of an issue,” says Audie, who now resides in Canada, “because we all pretty much have the skill, experience and the means to record our own vocals.”
He said the biggest challenge was finding the right track at the right time.
“Despite leaving the group 17 years ago, our friendship has always been intact. All four members came together to write the song. Mark served as the brainchild behind the production, working alongside a producer based in New York.”
Junior echoed that sentiment, saying the final product, which took shape “in spirit, voice and song,” was a testament to their natural chemistry as a team.
Old friendships,
During the reunion, jokes and laughter flowed just as they had in the old days. Keston recalled a funny moment shortly before they began recording.
“Jr had sent Fridge a message asking him to please use his strong voice. Back then, Fridge used to sing out with his natural, powerful voice, so when Jr made that request, we all found it hilarious! It brought back some good memories and gave us all a good laugh.”
Junior, Keston and Audie have continued writing original music and working extensively in production, while Jason has been performing on cruise ships around the world since 2021. Their musical experience has continued to develop, but the group’s vocal chemistry remains.
“I believe that now I see and feel the confidence from everyone even more than before,” Jason reflects. “We have grown both as singers and artistes. Doing the track has made it even more clear to me how much we have grown.”
How it all started
If you are a lover of R&B, you may remember seeing the group performing at events around the country in the 1990s. H2O PHLO was a major name on the local music scene.
Its story began on a rainy day in Port-of-Spain, when the members performed as an a cappella group, initially singing the national anthem at local functions and meetings.
When they decided to register the group officially, they discovered the name H2O had already been taken. After one of their performances, a woman approached them and remarked, “You all sounded as smooth as water flows.”
Keston recalled how the comment inspired their name.
“Her words stayed with us. We decided to combine the idea of H2O with the word ‘flow,’ creatively spelling it PHLO to maintain the scientific and chemical connection. That became the beginning of our musical journey, with an identity uniquely our own.”
The quartet soon made its mark on the Caribbean music scene, defining an era with mainstream hits such as Party With You, A Little Closer and High on the Dance Floor, which have stood the test of time.
What comes next?
Naturally, fans are already wondering whether this reunion signals a permanent comeback.
Audie said, “We got together specifically for this song. The fact that we pulled this off after so many years just shows the timeless bond we have, so anything’s possible going forward.”
Keston, Junior, Jason and Audie also took the opportunity to send a personal message to those who have supported them throughout their careers.
“Thank you for being part of this beautiful journey! Music has a way of bringing people together, connecting generations, and creating memories that last a lifetime. This H2O PHLO reunion is a reminder of where it all began, the laughter we shared, and the moments we continue to cherish. Much love, Keston, Junior, Jason, and Audie.”
English (US) ·