Focused on Fitness and Fete, Soca's Ding Dong is Ready for Tobago Carnival
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad - Thirty-five pounds lost on a journey of accountability, Trinidad and Tobago Soca trendsetter, Ding Dong is out the gate early, already delivering two songs ahead of Tobago carnival 2025. Intentional and extremely strategic, the DJ and artiste, says he’s doing what he has to, to be able to give fans a full range of music, no matter demographic or vibe.
Over the past few years, Andre Holder has consistently delivered for Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, ensuring that he has not only been a mainstay to the festival, but an ambassador of the new sound of Soca music. A frontline artiste with de All Starz Band, Ding Dong takes his artistry seriously, explaining that he dutifully works with a new producer and songwriter each year.
As he prepares for this year’s Tobago Carnival and Trinidad Carnival 2026, he has turned to songwriter Emmanuel Rudder and producer, Richard Gosine. “I’ve released ‘Wanna Party’ on the Guitar Man riddim,” said the artiste, explaining that the riddim, which also features Salty and Ms. Kerlz, is Gosine’s breakthrough project. “He’s been on the scene, but this is actually his first project and the riddim is named after him,” he highlighted. ‘Wanna Party’ is just one of a series of songs Ding Dong plans on releasing for Tobago carnival in October. “These songs will essentially make the transition into Trinidad’s carnival, but I’ve been observing the growth of Tobago’s festival and we’re making Tobago the focus for now.”
A second single, ‘Mas Band Thoughts’ was released on September 12th. Featuring DJ Spider, the track was produced by both DJ Spider and Darien Bailey, and hears the entertainer manipulate his vocals to introduce listeners to something less invasive, and possibly, a little more enticing. For Ding Dong, the journey is to be reveled in. “I’ve been setting up my repertoire in a specific way. I started off with 105 BPM and each season, I’ve tried to catch four songs in a BPM before moving on to a higher BPM. Right now, I’m hitting 115- 130. I need two more songs at 130 and then I’ll move into Power Soca to have a well- rounded set,” he said, making it abundantly clear that it’s all strategic.
Discipline has been a key component to the success of this radio disc- jockey turned all-out Soca artiste. Fueled by an undeniable love for music, Ding Dong has set himself in a category that some see as unbeatable. Now, bent on ensuring that his body can further his ambitions on stage, he’s pushing hard for a better physical weight. “Documenting my weight-loss journey has shown people that patience and discipline is the key to growth in life, I think. I’m showing the relationship between mind, body, soul and fitness. The journey is not easy,” he admits, highlighting that for him, sleep- a necessary component, is often difficult to attain. “As an entertainer, sleep is hard and the body needs sleep to repair itself when you’re on a fitness journey. When your body is accustomed to being up during peak season, reverting to sleeping at night becomes difficult. I call it the party body and you can’t change that because you’ll be tired at events when that time comes around again.”
Big plans and equally big songs in store for fans of Soca music, the young, well-loved entertainer is aspiring for greatness. “I’m giving my repertoire a little more maturity when it comes to the catalogue. The aim is to make the catalogue of music diverse,” he reiterated, encouraging variety and enjoyment for the seasons of revelry ahead, first in Tobago and then in Trinidad, come February 2026.
