Electronic music powerhouse Major Lazer has unveiled a vibrant Caribbean collaboration with Trinidadian soca icon Bunji Garlin and UK-Jamaican vocalist America Foster. Their new single “Goat” represents a significant cultural fusion, blending explosive bouyon rhythms with electronic dance music elements.
The track serves as a standout feature on Major Lazer’s recently released nine-track album “Gyalgebra,” marking the collective’s first comprehensive project in five years. This release signifies a strategic return to their roots in Caribbean music exploration.
Musically, “Goat” presents an innovative synthesis of power soca’s rapid tempo, bouyon’s intricate drum patterns, and expansive EDM synth elements. The production incorporates the distinctive bouyon sound—a high-energy genre originating from Dominica that combines traditional folk elements with contemporary digital beats. This musical style has gained substantial regional traction, with artists like Machel Montano, Skillibeng, and Mr Killa previously experimenting with the format.
The accompanying “Goat (Bouyon Mixes)” EP, available through Diplo’s Mad Decent label, features reinterpretations by Trinidadian production team Precision Productions and Dominican producer Dadamanufakture. These remixes emphasize the bouyon elements even more prominently, highlighting the genre’s syncopated rhythms that have emerged from the Windward Islands to become a dominant force in contemporary Caribbean music.
Early reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with Barbadian DJ Puffy’s livestream preview generating significant demand from fellow DJs across the region. The single is anticipated to become a carnival season staple, with its anthemic chorus and infectious energy designed for maximum dancefloor impact.
This release continues Major Lazer’s legacy of Caribbean collaborations, following their 2013 remix of Bunji Garlin’s “Differentology.” The “Gyalgebra” project overall showcases emerging Caribbean sounds including Trinidad’s zess music and Martinique’s shatta dancehall, positioning America Foster as a compelling new voice in the electronic and Caribbean music fusion scene.