NOTNICE...typically, by the end of May, we’d start hearing those kinds of songs being released.
As the summer entertainment period gets ready to hit a new gear, some Jamaican producers have shared mixed views on whether there is an official song for the season yet — the quintessential “summer anthem”.
Popular dancehall producer Notnice is not convinced that this is the case, up to the first week of June, citing the prominence of scamming songs in the industry that have overshadowed the smooth, party melodies usually dominating the summer months.
“Typically, by the end of May, we’d start hearing those kinds of songs being released. However, due to the dominance of the ‘choppa’ and scamming culture in our music over the past few years, the topics of most of these new songs have been limited, and we haven’t been getting as many feel-good party or summer songs,” Notnice told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.
According to the Notnice Records principal, who is known for iconic rhythms such as Street Vybz and Gangsta City, his analysis is based on the definitions of a summer song.
“A song that evokes a happy summer feeling can be considered a summer song, while some people also refer to the most popular song during the summer period as a summer song, regardless of its topic or content,” he noted.
Notnice (given name Ainsley Morris) noted that he is currently listening to artistes such as Masicka and Skillibeng. He added that he has also heard some unreleased music from Popcaan which he believes has “great potential”.
His Kyng Midas 2.0 album will be released in time for summer 2026.
DJ and founder of Nxnty One Music Chantele “DJ Nova” Roye is also of the view that, although there are some great songs on the market, listeners have yet to find ‘the one’.
“There are definitely a few tracks floating around with that summer energy, but I don’t think we’ve landed on the one standout song just yet,” she said.
She, however, said that she is not worried that time is passing by because of the dynamic nature of music.
“It’s actually pretty common to have the summer song later in the season. Music is being released every day, but the songs that really connect with people sometimes take a little time to catch on, especially once the summer vibe really starts to build,” she said.
DJ Nova, who is also featured on Fyah 105 FM’s Scorched Mondays to Friday’s 1:00 pm-5:00 pm, is anticipating what will unfold over the next few weeks.
“[I have] no predictions right now. I’m just watching to see how everything unfolds. The music scene is full of surprises, and sometimes it’s not the biggest names, but the ones with the right track at the right time,” she added.
In the meantime, producer Jermaine “Crawba Genius” Henry believes songs like Moliy’s Shake It To The Max and
Tip by Ayetian have the ability to supersede seasonal fame.
“It is obvious; the numbers don’t lie. Everybody is moving to them, even people from all over the diaspora,” he told
Splash.
Shake it to the Max (Fly) remix by Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea charted at #65 (as at Thursday) on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Crawba Genius added that artistes like Govana and Malie Donn are also positioned to possibly trend this summer.
“Sometimes, we can call the songs from even January or February, depending on if we can see the potential of the song. Sometimes, these songs run until even December. I don’t even view it as seasonal, to be honest, because dancehall music is not seasonal,” he said.