BoomStation Celebrates Caribbean Radio: Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds & More Live in New York, 2014
New York’s Caribbean music community came together on Saturday, March 15, 2014, as BoomStation celebrated another year on the air with an anniversary event featuring Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds and Yung Image.
The lineup reflected the musical identity BoomStation had been building since its launch in 2011, bringing Dancehall and Soca together under one roof. By this period, the New York-based internet station was streaming Caribbean music around the clock while building relationships with artists through interviews, radio programming and community events.
Julianspromos was there documenting the anniversary celebration, capturing the performances and atmosphere surrounding a Caribbean media platform that was becoming increasingly visible within New York’s entertainment scene. The surviving Julianspromos footage was shot and edited by Julian C. Hackett.
BoomStation Builds a Caribbean Radio Community
BoomStation launched in 2011 with a focus on Reggae, Dancehall and Soca music.
The station developed around 24-hour online streaming alongside interactive DJs, announcers, interviews, news and talk programming. Its artist interview history included major Caribbean names such as Beenie Man, Konshens, Mr. Vegas, Busy Signal, Spice, Gyptian, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Alison Hinds, Kes and Hypasounds.
BoomStation also expanded beyond radio.
Its activities included community service, food drives, charitable initiatives and participation in New York’s West Indian American Carnival, helping the station develop an identity connected to Caribbean culture beyond its online broadcast.
The anniversary celebration gave that online community a physical place to come together.
Mr. Vegas Brings Dancehall to the Celebration
Mr. Vegas brought a major Dancehall presence to the BoomStation anniversary.
By 2014, the Jamaican artist had already built an international catalogue stretching from late-1990s hits through records including “Heads High,” “Hot Wuk,” “I Am Blessed,” “Bruk It Down” and “Sweet Jamaica.”
His appearance also had a direct connection to another artist on the anniversary bill.
In 2012, Mr. Vegas and Alison Hinds had joined forces for the official Soca remix of “Bruk It Down,” blending Vegas’ Dancehall record with one of Soca’s most recognizable female voices. (music.apple.com)
Having both performers on the BoomStation anniversary lineup gave the night a natural meeting point between Dancehall and Soca, exactly the combination of genres around which the radio station had built much of its programming.
Alison Hinds Represents Barbados and Soca
Alison Hinds brought decades of Bajan Soca history to the event.
After establishing herself internationally as the lead singer of Square One, Hinds built a solo career around records including “Roll It Gal,” “Faluma,” “Togetherness,” “Aye Aye Aye” and “Island Girl.”
By the time of the 2014 BoomStation anniversary, her music had already become part of the soundtrack of Caribbean Carnivals and diaspora events around the world.
Her relationship with BoomStation extended beyond the anniversary stage as well. The station’s own surviving history lists Alison Hinds among the Soca artists it had interviewed, reinforcing the anniversary event as a celebration involving artists already connected to BoomStation’s radio platform.
The 2014 performance itself also survives independently online under “BoomStation Anniversary Party ft Alison Hinds and Mr Vegas,” adding another surviving visual record of the night.
Hypasounds Before a Strong 2014 Crop Over
The anniversary lineup also included Barbadian Soca artist, producer and DJ Hypasounds.
Born Damian Etienne, Hypasounds had first established himself as a popular DJ in Barbados before moving into recording Soca as an artist in 2006. (hypasoundsmuzik.com)
His March appearance in New York came just before another active Barbados Crop Over season.
Later in 2014, Hypasounds released records including “So Good” and “Dutti.” “So Good” reached the reserve position for Barbados’ 2014 Sweet Soca Monarch semifinals, while both songs became part of the summer’s Crop Over music.
The BoomStation footage therefore captures Hypasounds just before that next chapter of his 2014 season.
Yung Image and New York’s Emerging Caribbean Talent
Yung Image added a younger New York-Caribbean voice to the anniversary cast.
Originally from Grenada and based in Brooklyn, Yung Image developed a style drawing from Dancehall, Soca and Hip-Hop. His New York base placed him directly within the Caribbean diaspora scene that stations such as BoomStation were helping support.
During 2014, his releases included records such as “Party Tun Up,” “I Don’t Mind” and “Leave Meh,” adding to his presence within the Caribbean music circuit.
His inclusion alongside established names like Mr. Vegas and Alison Hinds also reflects an important part of events like the BoomStation anniversary: established Caribbean stars could share the platform with artists developing their careers from within New York’s own Caribbean community.
More Than an Anniversary Party
The 2014 celebration represented the connection between Caribbean radio, live entertainment and diaspora culture in New York.
BoomStation existed primarily as an internet-radio platform, but anniversary events brought the station’s listeners, personalities and artist relationships into a live setting.
The tradition continued.
A year later, Julianspromos again documented the BoomStation NY Anniversary in March 2015, with a lineup that included Farmer Nappy, Skinny Fabulous and other Caribbean performers.
That continuing anniversary coverage places the March 2014 event within a recurring chapter of New York Caribbean entertainment rather than leaving it as an isolated concert.
Julianspromos at the BoomStation Anniversary
For Julianspromos, the event came during another busy period of expansion in 2014.
The platform was documenting concerts, Carnival events, album launches, fetes and artist performances across the Caribbean entertainment scene while continuing its original role in digital Soca promotion.
The BoomStation anniversary was especially relevant because both brands were operating within New York’s Caribbean media space, using digital platforms to connect audiences with artists and music.
The Julianspromos footage was shot and edited by Julian C. Hackett.
The surviving highlights preserve performances by Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds and Yung Image while documenting another Caribbean media brand during its early growth.
Looking Back
More than a decade later, the BoomStation Anniversary 2014 footage captures an interesting intersection of Caribbean media and music in New York.
BoomStation was still only a few years into its development, but had already built a radio identity spanning Soca, Dancehall and Reggae and established relationships with many leading Caribbean artists.
Its anniversary stage reflected that same mix.
Mr. Vegas represented Jamaican Dancehall. Alison Hinds and Hypasounds brought two generations of Barbados Soca. Yung Image represented emerging Caribbean talent developing from Brooklyn.
For Julianspromos, the footage adds another piece to the growing 2014 archive.
Shot and edited by Julian C. Hackett, the surviving video preserves a night when two developing Caribbean media platforms intersected around the artists and music they were helping bring to audiences in New York and beyond.
