Trinidadian entrepreneur and cultural innovator Kamella Carmino has pioneered a groundbreaking musical genre titled Sōk-D’M (pronounced Soak Dem), representing an intentional fusion of Caribbean soca rhythms and electronic dance music (EDM). This innovative soundscape bridges traditional Carnival energy with global festival appeal, creating what industry observers are calling a transformative moment for Caribbean music on the world stage.
The genesis of Sōk-D’M emerged from a strategic conversation between Carmino and ABM of Platinum Trini Hot 97FM Internet Radio, based in Los Angeles. During their discussion, ABM—who holds promotional licensing rights in Las Vegas—revealed the challenging reality that while EDM dominated the Vegas entertainment market, virtually no platform existed for traditional soca music. This market gap inspired Carmino’s immediate creative response: “So why don’t we fuse soca and EDM and call it Sōk-D’M?”
Within hours of this conceptual breakthrough, Carmino collaborated with her son Jesus Carmino-Garraway to produce the inaugural Sōk-D’M single “Cross De Stage,” released through JuJu Multimedia. This pioneering track established the genre’s technical parameters and artistic vision, blending soca’s characteristic drum patterns, call-and-response vocal arrangements, and steelpan heritage with EDM’s synthesizer textures, powerful basslines, and dramatic build-and-drop structures.
Carmino has since expanded the Sōk-D’M catalog with additional compositions including “High on Love” and “Jump Up on Down,” further refining the genre’s sonic identity and emotional resonance. Operating within a tempo range of 125-132 BPM, Sōk-D’M occupies a unique musical space that merges the visceral energy of Trinidad’s J’Ouvert celebrations with the spectacular production values of international festivals like Tomorrowland.
The term “Sōk-D’M” itself carries profound cultural meaning, with Carmino explaining: “To Soak Dem is to be drenched in rhythm, culture and spirit.” Beyond its musical innovations, the genre represents a philosophical movement advocating for borderless Carnival expression and electronic music with authentic Caribbean soul. This creative initiative invites global producers, DJs, and music enthusiasts to engage with Caribbean culture through rhythm-based connection and collective celebration.
As Sōk-D’M gains traction across international markets, Carmino envisions the genre transforming how Caribbean music is perceived and consumed worldwide, creating new pathways for cultural exchange and artistic collaboration across continents.