Before Now Riddim – Xpert Productions

Before Now Riddim finds Xpert Productions doing what they have become known for in Grenada and across the wider soca lane: pairing polished engineering with melodies that stay light on their feet and ready for the road. The James brothers, John and Jason, have built a reputation for clean, modern carnival productions that travel well beyond Carriacou, and their catalog in recent years has included some of the more talked-about Grenadian seasonal releases. This one sits comfortably in that run, but with a more romantic, reflective edge than the name might first suggest.

The riddim carries a breezy groovy soca feel, with enough bounce to keep it moving but enough space in the arrangement for the vocals to breathe. It has that bright, driving Caribbean pulse Xpert tends to favor, with melodic synth lines and a tidy, radio-friendly mix that makes the whole thing easy to play in a fete set or on a warm-up playlist. The mood is playful and affectionate rather than heavy, and the title frame suits that blend of memory, longing and present-tense sweetness.

Randy Isaac’s “Miss You Darling” is the cut that gives the project its emotional anchor. Isaac has long been one of Grenada’s core soca voices, a veteran who knows how to turn a simple hook into something people can sing back immediately. Otis brings a different flavor on “Sweetest Blessing, ” sounding more tender and devotional, while Blackman’s “Good Man” has the kind of straight-ahead, self-assured phrasing that sits nicely on a groove like this. Myney’s “Lucky Wine” rounds things out with the kind of dance-floor wink that keeps a riddim from settling into one mood for too long.

Taken together, the four voices make the project feel like a proper carnival juggling rather than a random bundle of singles. Xpert Productions have given each singer enough room to shape the beat in their own way, and that balance is what makes Before Now Riddim worth a spin: a polished soca package with enough warmth, personality and local character to sit naturally in the season.