Guyanese Neville Johnston -- De Soca Devil/ DJ Socadevil

Reppin GT in the soca promotion industry



It seems that everywhere one searches one is certain to find a Guyanese reppin for the homeland. One such person who proudly declares that he's Guyanese, sometimes wearing the flag as clothing is "The Mash Soca rebel from Guyana."

According to this Hopetown village kid's birth certificate his name is Neville Johnston but he's known in the UK as "De Soca Devil/ Dj Socadevil.

While Guyanese around the world have dreams of taking the good news about Guyana to the world he's attempting that feat in London, England.

Not seeking popularity but getting it none-the-less he says "My main purpose is promoting and supporting Soca and calypso music of all forms, provided by artistes of the Caribbean region. I also seek to promote our Caribbean culture around the world.

"My job, which I enjoy doing with great pleasure, is to push and promote Soca tunes on Revive Jammin Radio (RJR 98.3FM) London UK, SocaFM.com and Radio Guyana International with MAXIMIUM EFFECT," he says.

His second and according to him "most important mission" is to promote the Soca artiste from my homeland, Guyana, as well as those in the Caribbean, something he has been doing for many years in London UK.

His promotions name list include Chris Wilson, Mingles, Samantha Grant, Dr. Slingshot, D'Ivan, Adrian and Jumo from X2, Big Red, Li'l Man, Vanilla, Malo, Compton Hodge, Mystique, the Untouchables Band and many others who are known and unknown to other Soca artistes.

This GT ˜to the bone man' is also working along with Kross Kolor Records (www.krosskolor.com) based in Guyana and other groups in, out and around the Caribbean to expose these and many more artistes.

In addition, being true to his roots he's a member of the new Guyana-uk.com team, representing Guyana at most or all Soca events musically as Guyana's Soca DJ.

He believes that "It (Guyana) is one of the CARICOM countries least mentioned in the Soca and carnival arenas." Hence armed with the tools of media he says, "I am able to present the radio shows ˜The Bacchanal Vibes Of Soca' on Revive Jammin Radio (RJR 98.3FM) in London also on www.SocaFM.com, and ˜Soca Fete On De Net' on Radio Guyana International."

Johnson is also a member of the Caribbean Music Association UK where he functions as the secretary responsible for communications between registered Soca and non Soca Djs who are part of this organisation.

His plea to all Soca music singers and producers out of Guyana and the Caribbean region is "Please feel free to send me your music for promotional purposes for the listeners in the UK and worldwide."

On the net, music should be sent to djsocadevil@radiogy.com or djsocadevil@gmail.com.

His experience in the Soca field dates back to the days of the calypso king and queen of the world Mighty Sparrow and Calypso Rose of T&T, the late great Lord Kitchener, Ras Shorty I, who paved the way for all the stars that have and will follow.

On the local shores he remembers The Mighty Canary, King Fighter, The Mighty Rebel and Mighty Kaieteur.

So exactly who and what is this 43-year-old UK-based DJ looking for, "Any and all Caribbean Soca artiste, Soca Deejays, Promoters and Producers of Caribbean and worldwide Soca music of all types and formats, Carnivalists and Caribbean people who love promoting the Caribbean culture in the form of carnival arts.

Whenever in Guyana, Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara is his residence as has been the case since 1976.

He was educated at Hopetown Congregational School, Fountain AME School, and Central High School. His latter years of education were received at the Guysuco Apprentice Training Centre where he became a mechanic.

A former LBI Estate field workshop staffer, he migrated London in 1987.

In London he works as a security engineer and specializes in CCTV and electronic security systems. Despite being employed in a full-time job he's also known as the only Guyanese Soca DJ that is passionate in representing his homeland, replacing the negative with positive vibes through Soca music.

He is also one of the more visible people at the Nottinghill Carnival, and most Caribbean Soca fetes in London for his Guyana colours.

He is among the Guyanese promoters who host "We Outta GT."

He is currently working on promoting Mash in Guyana by bring out a new carnival band in London called "The Mash Carnival Mas Band."

This, he says, is "to encourage our fellow Guyanese living abroad to attend. I feel this will be good for our economy as we can see in all other Caribbean islands."

His message to Guyana is "Open the Gate Because We Coming Home for Mash in 2008"