BoomStation Anniversary NYC 2013–2015: Three Years of Soca, Dancehall & Caribbean Radio
For three consecutive years, BoomStation’s anniversary celebrations brought Caribbean radio personalities, artists and fans together in New York.
From Skinny Fabulous in 2013, to Mr. Vegas and Alison Hinds in 2014, to Farmer Nappy, Skinny Fabulous and Majah Hype in 2015, each year offered a different snapshot of the Caribbean music scene.
Julianspromos documented all three editions through original video, interviews and photography, following BoomStation as the internet-radio platform brought its on-air Caribbean community into a live setting.
2013: Skinny Fabulous Before “The General” Took Over Vincy Mas
The first BoomStation anniversary featured in this collection took place on March 2, 2013.
At the center of the Julianspromos coverage was Skinny Fabulous, who performed during the celebration before sitting down with Intrigue Lane for a post-performance interview.
Only a few months later, Skinny would have one of the biggest Carnival seasons of his career.
During Vincy Mas 2013, “The General” carried him to both the Soca Monarch and Road March titles.
That makes his BoomStation appearance a fun moment to revisit: New York was seeing Skinny Fabulous just before “The General” took over St. Vincent’s Carnival season.
Watch Skinny Fabulous at BoomStation Anniversary 2013
The 2013 Julianspromos coverage combines Skinny Fabulous’ live appearance with his conversation with Intrigue Lane, giving viewers both the performance and the artist behind it.
Julianspromos Host / Interviewer: Intrigue Lane
Camera: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Edited by: Julian C. Hackett
The current archive confirms Intrigue handled the interview, Chandy operated the camera and Julian edited the footage.
BoomStation Anniversary 2013 Photo Gallery
BoomStation Brings Caribbean Radio Into the Room
BoomStation had launched in 2011 with a focus on Reggae, Dancehall and Soca, combining 24-hour internet radio with DJs, announcers, interviews, news and talk programming.
The anniversary party gave that online community somewhere to meet in person.
Instead of listeners, radio personalities and artists only connecting through a stream, they were now sharing the same New York room.
A year later, the lineup would make BoomStation’s mix of Soca and Dancehall even clearer.
2014: Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds & Yung Image
Julianspromos returned for the next BoomStation anniversary on March 15, 2014.
This time, the lineup brought together Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds and Yung Image, connecting Jamaica, Barbados and New York’s Caribbean diaspora on the same night.
Mr. Vegas Brings Dancehall to BoomStation
Mr. Vegas represented the Dancehall side of BoomStation’s sound.
By 2014, his catalogue already stretched across years of Caribbean hits, including records such as “Heads High,” “Hot Wuk,” “I Am Blessed” and “Bruk It Down.”
Having Vegas on the anniversary lineup gave the night a strong Jamaican presence.
Alison Hinds Brings the Soca
Then there was Alison Hinds.
Already internationally known through her years with Square One and her solo career, Alison brought a completely different Caribbean sound into the room.
There was also a musical connection between the two headliners.
Alison had joined Mr. Vegas on the Soca remix of “Bruk It Down,” making their appearance on the same BoomStation bill a natural meeting of Dancehall and Soca.
Hypasounds Represents Barbados
Hypasounds added another Barbados connection to the anniversary.
His March appearance came only months before another Crop Over season, when his music would once again become part of Barbados’ summer Soca conversation.
Yung Image Adds a New York Voice
Yung Image brought a younger New York-Caribbean presence into a lineup filled with established regional artists.
That mixture suited BoomStation.
The station was not only playing music coming directly from the islands. It was also part of a New York Caribbean community developing its own artists, DJs and personalities.
Watch BoomStation Anniversary 2014
The Julianspromos highlights bring the 2014 lineup together on screen, including Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds and Yung Image.
Rather than reading the names on a lineup years later, the video takes viewers back inside the anniversary and shows how Dancehall, Soca and New York Caribbean talent shared the same event.
Camera: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Edited by: Julian C. Hackett
The current combined archive page lists Chandy on camera and Julian as editor for this edition.
2015: Farmer Nappy Arrives With “My House”
BoomStation celebrated again on March 14, 2015, less than a month after Trinidad Carnival.
That made Farmer Nappy an especially timely guest.
His song “My House” had just finished second in the 2015 International Groovy Soca Monarch competition, meaning New York was getting Farmer Nappy while one of the season’s biggest records was still fresh.
Skinny Fabulous Returns Two Years Later
The 2015 anniversary also brought Skinny Fabulous back to BoomStation.
Two years earlier, the Julianspromos cameras had caught him shortly before “The General” became his Vincy Mas championship song.
Now he was back in New York at another point in his career, surrounded by a different BoomStation lineup.
The return gives the three-year story a nice connection: Skinny appears in both the first and final editions of this collection.
Chandy Hosts the 2015 Coverage
The Julianspromos setup changed for 2015 too.
This time Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs was in front of the camera as host, while Julian C. Hackett filmed and edited the coverage.
Watch BoomStation Anniversary 2015
The main Julianspromos highlights put Farmer Nappy, Skinny Fabulous and more of the 2015 celebration on screen, with Chandy taking viewers through the night.
Julianspromos Host: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Camera: Julian C. Hackett
Edited by: Julian C. Hackett
Majah Hype Talks With Chandy
The anniversary also produced a separate Julianspromos interview with Majah Hype.
By 2015, his Caribbean comedy characters were reaching audiences well beyond New York through online video and social media.
That made a BoomStation anniversary a fitting place for the conversation: internet radio, online comedy, Soca artists and Caribbean media personalities were all crossing paths in the same room.
BoomStation Anniversary 2015 Photo Gallery
The 2015 photos bring back another side of the celebration, including Chandy’s coverage, the artists and the people surrounding BoomStation that night.
Chandy and BoomStation
BoomStation also had a personal connection to the Julianspromos story through Chandy.
During this period, BoomStation listeners knew her as Chandy Sweet, where she developed an on-air identity while continuing her work with Julianspromos.
That explains why her role looks different across the three anniversary editions.
In 2013, she worked behind the camera while Intrigue interviewed Skinny Fabulous.
In 2014, she again worked behind the camera.
By 2015, she was hosting the Julianspromos coverage herself.
The roles changed from year to year, but Chandy was already active in both Caribbean radio and event media during this period.
Three Years, Three Different Caribbean Lineups
Put the three anniversaries beside each other and BoomStation’s musical identity becomes easy to see.
2013: Skinny Fabulous represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
2014: Mr. Vegas brought Jamaican Dancehall while Alison Hinds and Hypasounds represented Barbados, with Yung Image adding a New York-Caribbean voice.
2015: Farmer Nappy brought Trinidad Carnival momentum, Skinny Fabulous returned and Majah Hype added another side of Caribbean entertainment.
The genres were different.
The islands were different.
But the audience was connected by the same Caribbean culture.
From the Julianspromos Archives
For Julianspromos, the BoomStation anniversary series also shows how the coverage team changed across the three years.
In 2013, Intrigue Lane hosted and interviewed Skinny Fabulous, Chandy handled the camera and Julian C. Hackett edited.
In 2014, Chandy again worked behind the camera while Julian handled the edit.
By 2015, Chandy was hosting in front of the camera while Julian filmed and edited the event.
But the artists are what really bring the three years to life.
Skinny Fabulous appears just before a championship Vincy Mas season.
Mr. Vegas and Alison Hinds bring Dancehall and Soca together in New York.
Hypasounds arrives before another Crop Over.
Farmer Nappy comes to BoomStation with “My House” fresh from Trinidad Carnival.
And Skinny returns two years after his first appearance.
Three anniversary celebrations.
Three changing lineups.
And three nights when BoomStation brought Caribbean radio off the internet and into the room.
Event Timeline
BoomStation Anniversary 2013
Date: March 2, 2013
Featured Julianspromos Coverage: Skinny Fabulous performance and interview
Julianspromos Host / Interviewer: Intrigue Lane
Camera: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Editor: Julian C. Hackett
BoomStation Anniversary 2014
Date: March 15, 2014
Featured Artists: Mr. Vegas, Alison Hinds, Hypasounds & Yung Image
Camera: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Editor: Julian C. Hackett
BoomStation Anniversary 2015
Date: March 14, 2015
Featured Coverage: Farmer Nappy, Skinny Fabulous, Majah Hype & more
Julianspromos Host: Chandelle “Chandy” De Riggs
Camera: Julian C. Hackett
Editor: Julian C. Hackett
