Editorial: Bunji Garlin – Differentology and Beyond
It isn’t uncommon for a song to garner popularity in American markets after an international presence has been established years after its original release. It’s a strange process, but it has happened countless times before nonetheless. Sean Paul’s “Gimme The Light” is a very popular example of one of those said songs, or even Capitol Citie’s “Safe & Sound”.
Enter Ian Antonio Alvarez aka Bunji Garlin, a mainstay soca artist from Trinidad & Tobago who’s impromptu studio session with a one Sheriff Mumbles ended up spawning the biggest hit of his lengthy career. A hit so big that since it’s release 2 years ago in 2012 has seen the artist bring a level of attention to Trinidad’s music that arguably no contemporary artist in recent time (Sorry Machel) has been able to accomplish.
From Soul Train to Summer Jam, Grey’s Anatomy, the BBC, 106 & Park and more, Bunji Garlin has penetrated the global MAINSTREAM market like no Trinidadian has done in quite a few decades. Getting to witness these songs explode on the global scene is always a delight but the more pressing matter for the artists in these situations or probably more so, any labels that develop interest, is what happens after?
With a joint deal recently reported between RCA and VP Records, Garlin is looking to take this anomaly a step further with what is an American marketed LP release. This part of the narrative is where the nail biting may begin. The magic behind “Differentology” is almost indescribable. It’s one of those songs that have just the right elements to appeal to almost any walk of life.
If you like lyrics, Bunji is never in short supply. You can’t understand what the hell he’s talking about? The song’s instrumental is hypnotic enough to draw you in. So what happens now? If you know record labels, at least one shmuck in the machine is hoping for 11 more “Differentologys”. But if you know Bunji Garlin, the last thing this outspoken artist is known for, is conforming.
Not much information has been released regarding the yet to be titled project but it doesn’t make the wait any less exciting for us spectators. “Carnival Tabanca” and “Truck On D Road”, follow ups that tore down events this last carnival season, are good signs that Bunji will continue to experiment- but the double edged sword that comes with soca music is that it’s an insulated culture.
People who are unfamiliar with Trinidad and its carnival culture may be a bit lost in translation regarding the slang and lyrics, so it will be interesting to see how Bunji breaks through the “language barrier” that can potentially prove a hindrance. At 35 years old Bunji Garlin already celebrates a career that spans over 12 years, it’s funny that now the world may be introduced to him as a new artist. Like Pharrell, an artist only 5 years older than Garlin, experienced with his chart buster “Happy” Bunji Garlin may be going into the second lap of his career. Let’s hope like Pharrell, the phenomenon that is Bunji Garlin continues to grow exponentially so that a door can be opened that allows other Trinidadian artist an opportunity for their music to be heard by the world.
NO PRESSURE IAN, NO PRESSURE……