Kes Shares Exciting New Album Details and His Experience with Tiny Desk and Di Genius’ ‘Hill & Gully’ Riddim: ‘It Surprised Everyone!’
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The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival continues through the weekend, following a standout performance by Kes the Band on May 8. The soca group dominated the stage, showcasing their energetic style.
With Kees Dieffenthaller, known as Kes, at the helm, the band delivered an hour-long set featuring popular soca hits such as “Wotless,” “Savannah Grass,” and “Cocoa Tea.” This performance adds to a busy schedule that includes recent shows at Jazz @ Lincoln Center in January and an upcoming North American leg of their Roots, Rock, Soca Tour.
“[Saint Lucia] Jazz always has such a mixed bag of performers that blows me away,” Kes remarked in an interview with Billboard after a soundcheck. “When I was coming down on the plane, I had the chance to have a one-on-one with Billy Ocean, who’s also from Trinidad. He was sitting straight across from me, so I was able to reason and vibe with him, asking him a few questions. I love how Jazz brings together different genres and generations.”
The band’s performance on Friday also bookended a significant moment for them. On May 8, Kes the Band debuted on NPR’s Tiny Desk, marking another highlight in a year filled with achievements. While the Tiny Desk setting showcased their versatility in more intimate spaces, the festival performance demonstrated their ability to engage larger crowds.
The Tiny Desk set featured hits like “Fallin’” and “Hello,” with notable backup vocals from Teddyson John of Saint Lucia and Terri Lyons, Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Monarch for 2026. Steelpan player Dane Gulston joined the band, enhancing their Caribbean sound. The performance was particularly meaningful for Kes, who honored his late sister, filmmaker Danielle Dieffenthaller, by placing her photos on the desk before him while performing “Savannah Grass.”
“That was a dream come true,” Kes shared. “I’ve wanted [to play a Tiny Desk set] ever since I fell in love with the platform. It’s a good space for us to showcase our musicianship outside of the frenzy of a fete. When I shot the ‘We Home’ virtual performance during COVID, I was thinking of it as my audition tape for Tiny Desk; it’s just great for the culture. And [with the pictures], everybody was present, and we truly felt their presence.”
Although he saved his new collaboration with Di Genius, “Masterpiece,” for a different occasion, Kes has embraced dancehall influences over the years, dating back to tracks like “Tuesday on the Rocks.” “Masterpiece,” inspired by the acclaimed “Hill & Gully” riddim, blends mento, a vintage Jamaican folk music style. The single was released on May 9, following the festival performance.
“Nobody expected that! But when you listen to the riddim and hear the mento roots, you can see how I would suit that style,” Kes explained. “This is positioned to be one of the major riddims this summer — and Genius hadn’t brought one out in a minute. We’re both signed to Warner Chappell Music as songwriters, so we’ve worked in similar spaces. The first thing I told him when I heard the riddim was, ‘Mento!!!’ We went to the studio and got it done quickly; then, I went to Jamaica for their Carnival and shot the music video there.”
While Kes has just released a new single for the summer, he remains tight-lipped about the band’s next full album. “I’m spending the entire year writing, and by the end of the year, I’ll be finished,” he teased. “I’m in the works of a new album, so I’m looking forward to bringing forward some crazy. I’m always tinkering!”
Looking ahead, Kes the Band will kick off the North American leg of their Roots, Rock, Soca Tour on May 23 at Soca Fest in Orlando, Florida. The tour will feature performances in theaters and amphitheaters across major cities, including a concert at Forest Hills Stadium in New York City on June 27, culminating on August 16 with a show in Duluth, Georgia, alongside reggae legend Beres Hammond.
