Upstairs Riddim – Chimney Records

Upstairs Riddim arrived in 2022 from Chimney Records as a sharp-edged dancehall juggling with a glossy, modern bounce and plenty of room for the artistes to flex personality. Chimney, the production outfit of Jordan McClure and David Hayle, has long been associated with polished arrangements and club-ready dancehall, and this one sits comfortably in that lane. The rhythm has a clipped, upbeat drive rather than a heavy steppers feel, with clean drum programming, bright synth accents and enough low-end to keep it moving on a sound system.

The lineup is loaded with familiar names: Demarco, Ding Dong, Govana and Intence, Jafrass, Jahmiel, Moyann and Shenseea. Demarco’s Big Speech brings his veteran deejay swagger, while Ding Dong’s Rich Walk taps the dance-driven side of his catalogue. Govana and Intence pairing up on Mxrdah gives the riddim a meaner, more street-facing edge. Jahmiel’s Third Eye adds a more reflective, melodic contrast, and Shenseea’s Dolly brings the kind of confidence-first delivery that helped make the song one of the more talked-about cuts from the set. Moyann’s Big Tingz rounds things out with a catchy, fashion-conscious vibe that fits her rising profile.

What makes Upstairs land is the balance between party energy and artist identity. It is not trying to reinvent dancehall; it is about giving a strong crop of voices a slick, current frame and letting each one cut through with its own angle.