#BajanVibes – The ‘Pressure’ is on . . . New album soon from King Bubba FM

Hit-maker King Bubba FM has started to apply the “Pressure” by dropping a single with another one underway. It will all be a part of his new upcoming album – an album he intends to drop very soon.

The reigning Bashment Soca King, having tied with SK last year, already released a single called Pressure on May 25 with Ride It to be made public shortly.

King Bubba, real name F. Adam Elias, told Bajan Vibes that he has something very special in the works with his upcoming album.

“My new album is dropping soon. The next release is Ride It produced by DJ Puffy, Dwaingerous [Dwain Antrobus] and Platta Studios. Sekon Sta is the writer. It is going to be major. Ride It mostly likely would have been the song I would take to the competition if I had defended the crown.”

Speaking about Pressure, which is already making waves, King Bubba said he had teamed up yet again with Problem Child whom he had worked with on previous projects.

“Pressure was written by Problem Child. Problem Child is out of this world. He is a big man in the business; top of the top writer, artiste and performer. He penned Whole Night and She Always Bend Over. The magic behind this is that he is so gifted that if he knows you, he knows what would work with you.

“He knows me very well and when we decide to do a project together, he has the ability to envision me and knows what would sound good with my voice. He understands King Bubba FM and the formula. He is amazing, big respect. Nasty Up was his major player for Vincy Mas and all the carnivals for 2019,” the singer said.

The project was completed swiftly. King Bubba linked with his usual people Dwaingerous and Andrew Denny in order to give the song the final musical touch.

“This project came together pretty quickly and as expected. That is usually how the hits come. Dwaingerous and I were talking about another project and then I asked what else he was working on. Then Andrew Denny told me he had a riddim. He sent it to me and I said I wanted to get on it.

“Dwaingerous has been involved heavily in all my hit songs, including Who Drinking Rum to Mash Up to Monster Winer. From the time I heard it, I knew it was something big and I started to prepare myself to record the song. We made some changes. We [Problem Child and I] actually threw away the original first verse and came up with the one we have now.”

The entertainer who travels extensively said he felt extremely happy with the final version of the song and that he was getting positive reviews both here and abroad.

“The same way we felt about it, is the same way it is being received. I am very happy about that because it gives me a fresh vibe after feeling the pressure of the pandemic. The song is getting airplay in the international soca circuit. All the big deejays are playing it. The whole riddim is shot. It is a major project and I am glad to be a part of another successful project.”

King Bubba told Bajan Vibes that creating good music is all about making people happy. It’s a task he does not intend to relent on.

“Music is life. We need music. So even though there are no fetes, there are no concerts, it’s not all about the money. It is about the fans and making people feel good and helping them get through their daily lives. It’s about giving them joy and what they crave. I can never stop making music, whether it is for King Bubba FM or the Platta Studio Record Label and all the artistes under my umbrella that I work with. Making music is my therapy. Giving people joy is my thing. It is my release from all the pressures.”

When asked if he was planning to defend the Bashment Soca title, King Bubba did not directly say. He insisted though that it was the music and how people receive it that determine whether he competes or not.

“I am not like most artistes. A lot of artistes build songs for the competition. But I look to build songs that are bangers so that you put them out and whatever the people are pulling to is the one you would go to the competition with, if you decide to compete. When She Always Bend Over was made, competition was not on the cards. It was about making a hit song, a new anthem for the ladies. I got a vibe telling me I want Dwaingerous to touch it. It was an amazing riddim by DJ Spider.”

He reminisced about making last year’s hit song She Always Bend Over. “At a point, it was only drum and bass and I felt like it needed an extra icing on the cake. Dwaingerous added his magic, straight to Andrew Denny, and the rest is history. I saw the response from people in the industry and fans were encouraging me to take a shot at the competition which was the furthest thing from my mind at that point due to a heavy touring schedule. I didn’t want to go to competition if I wasn’t prepared to win. The last statement I made on TV years ago was that if I am going back, I am going back to win. The first competition I entered, I placed second. First time in Bashment competition, I came out as a winner.”

King Bubba FM explained that while he will miss Crop Over 2020, he saw the writing on the wall as it relates to the pandemic and cancellation of the “biggest summer festival”.

“I had already made up in my mind that it was inevitable based on what was happening with the pandemic at the time, seeing what was taking place around the world and that mass gatherings were no longer allowed. I had already started to prepare myself when I saw the other carnivals cancelling but it still hurt.

He added: “I will miss Crop Over 2020. But we can’t look back on yesterday. Right now, we have to make today great. So even though we are not going to have our traditional Crop Over, we can still make stuff happen. We can still make this something amazing and make the best of it.”

Bubba admitted that he is still feeling the pressure of the pandemic, but said “things are getting better”.

“It was challenging for all of us but look at us today, we are making it through. We can get through anything. Congrats to all the frontline workers and everybody who played a major part in keeping the country safe. I extend major kudos to Prime Minister Mia Mottley and to everyone who followed the protocols and guidelines.”

As for the trying COVID-19 pandemic period, Bubba had this to say: “It was a game changer. I think most of all I found a greater appreciation for everything…” (IMC)