The Callaloo Restaurant was the perfect place to discuss music. It’s located right on the beach and wasn’t crowded. We sat waiting at a table for four unsure of what to expect. “We’re so sorry! We got caught up in work,” the engineer said as he approached us swiftly, arms stretched ready for a warm embrace. Casually dressed in a black “Just Do It” shirt with a modest gold chain, the engineer and his brother dressed similarly. Their two DJs were behind them. This Grenadian production duo surely knew how to make an entrance. West Indian time and all.
John and Jason James are the masterminds behind Xpert Productions. Their Grenadian riddims have gone global with songs such as Gyal Owner by Blaxx, Set the Mood by Shortpree, No Personal by Lavaman, and most recently Ting Ting by Slatta. Still, their contributions to soca music is most felt right here at home—thanks to tradition.
From Serenading to Soca
John James 
Jason James
“It started with parang music. Our father, a well known musician in Carriacou, taught us stuff to go and serenade, that’s tradition here. After that we took it upon our own selves to get better at the music and not just make it parang,” John said.
While tradition played a big part in their lives, the desire to create better music still tugged at their heart’s strings. One day, local artist Big Bad Busta approached Jason by saying “you know, we don’t always have to go out of Carriacou to record something. We can try to do something here.”
Every artist in Carriacou used to travel to either Grenada or St. Vincent to make music. The island did not have any local recording studios. The cost of traveling to another island just to do music and also pay for the music over there is a lot for the local artist.
John and Jason saw this lack as motivation to create something that was not available on the island. They tested the idea out with Big Bad Busta using a cheap mic and some computer speakers. The quality wasn’t the best, but people liked it. The little money they did make from the music, they invested it back into their business because they knew they couldn’t continue using only a cheap mic and laptop speakers. It was money in, money out.
With the sponsorship of a mixer from their uncle, they created one of Carriacou’s most active recording studios, Xpert Studio.
The X Factor
With a name like Xpert, John and Jason have made their name putting out higher quality productions than others locally. People have built their expectations off what they’re accustomed to. But, as they explained to us, you can’t take a garbage bin and make it into a palace.
Artists they work with have an edge. Mr Gold’n, Laura Lisa, Slatta, and Skinny Fabulous are among some of their favorites to produce for and mix. They have great voices and make recording a song worthwhile whether they are in the Grenada studio or not.
“Sometimes I prefer artists send in tracks. A lot of artists, they does just want to put a bunch ah ting in the song and me personally sometimes I don’t see the need for all that. For me, let’s sit down and like go through a whole session, going back and forth,” said Jason.
They might value a more traditional way of making music but it will pay off. Their goal is to enhance the quality of soca music they’re producing and to connect with at least 15 new artistes across the Caribbean this year.
