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When Family Says No, Music Says Yes—A Chutney Confession, "I Is Trouble"

By Published November 13, 2025

Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca — your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.

 
We haven't posted any Chutney Soca in a while, but that changes with this post. The tune is new music from the artist known as Tony Cuttz; the song was written by Neil J. Maraj and produced, mixed and mastered by Drew @Fabuloussoundz. If you have not listened to Chutney Soca in a while, this song may confuse you a bit. Let's discuss this.
 
What is this music style?
We haven’t posted Chutney Soca in a while, but this one demanded our attention. The latest release, "I Is Trouble," comes from Tony Cuttz and was written by Neil J. Maraj, with production, mixing, and mastering done by Drew @Fabuloussoundz. It’s not your typical Chutney Soca—and that’s precisely why we’re talking about it.
 
What’s the vibe here?
Yes, it’s Chutney Soca. But is it just that? Or are we hearing something more nuanced—something: the sound isn’t your typical Chutney Soca”? It’s smoother. Softer. More introspective. We’re calling it "Groove Chutney Soca." The arrangement is mellow, the instrumentation soothing, and the overall feel leans into emotional storytelling rather than bacchanal energy. It’s a mood piece, not a jump-up anthem.
 
The lyrics feel like lived experience.
This songwriter may have experienced this scenario before because he captured the story as if it were his experience. Perhaps he has truly experienced this, or he is simply very creative. The song is about a difficult relationship. The relationship is challenging because the partner's family holds a negative opinion of the suitor. The song tells of the heartbreak and pain the relationship is causing him. But despite the hardship, he confesses his love for the young lady, who simply appears to be enjoying the adoration. The lyrics spell out the dilemma he is facing:  "They said that I am mad"  and “They say that I am crazy" speak to the pain he is experiencing and social disapproval leveled by her parents.  But through it all he remains determined to make the situation work. 
 
Did the title make sense to you? 'Trouble' as in "I am Trouble?"
Trouble for this song simply holds true for the situation the relationship finds itself in. The singer's partner's family disapproves of them, explicitly saying, "They said that I am mad. They say that I am crazy." Despite this conflict and the trouble the singer brings, they consistently express their love for their partner. In the song, "I am trouble" may mean "I caused this difficult situation."
 
Why we’re posting this
Chutney Soca has massive audiences in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, New York, Toronto, and India. And while Sokah2Soca doesn’t often spotlight the genre, "I Is Trouble" offers something fresh. It’s introspective, musically refined, and culturally resonant. If this is where Chutney is heading, we’re here for the ride.
 
So tell us, is this Groove Chutney Soca something you can vibe with? Does this style speak to you? Now tell us what you think about our take on the song and if you want us to post more Chutney Soca songs.
 
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music because doing so denies essential revenue to songwriters, producers, and artists.  You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like FacebookYouTubeInstagramSpotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS FeedThreadsBluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
 
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: I Is Trouble 
Artist/Performed by: Tony Cuttz (Remesh Brijnauth)
Written By: Neil J. Maraj
Produced, Mixed And Mastered By: Drew @ Fabuloussoundz 
Origin: Suriname/Guyana 
Genre: Chutney Soca ?
 
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca are thriving!
 
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
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