Lost Tribe’s interactive rhythm section truck a hit

2026-03-21 - 23:35

The 2026 Carnival season may be over, but some are still praising The Lost Tribe mas band for one of its latest innovations—a truck with an interactive rhythm section. Masqueraders got the chance to create their own groove with music collective Jus Now and D Rhythm Army as they danced through the streets of Port-of-Spain, and they loved it. Fresh off retaining the Band of the Year title, co-founder, bandleader and creative director Valmiki Maharaj said the concept was years in the making. “Lost Tribe is the rhythm band,” he explained. “We’ve had the Laventille Rhythm Section, tassa... many different elements over the years. So the idea of rhythm and music has always been one of my driving factors.” But when he noticed masqueraders would sometimes hop onto the percussionists’ trucks and “try ah ting” themselves, a light bulb appeared above his head. “It was just the most fun thing to see, and they would just totally enjoy themselves and have their friends take videos of them.” So he began doing what fleet manager Christian De Gannes calls “one of his infamous Val drawings,” later contacting local rhythm section D Rhythm Army and Keshav Chandradath Singh of Jus Now. They dubbed it the Riddim Stage. “The route to here took many steps,” Maharaj said. And De Gannes concurred — from sourcing the right sound system provider to selecting the right truck frame. “We did site visits with the team to decide on the placement of the instruments/sound system and the DJ, created floor plans to ensure everyone had space for instruments, and brainstormed ways to secure the interactive drums,” De Gannes said. They also secured sponsorship from Optometrists Today. For producer, drummer and singer Chandradath Singh, hopping on board—or on truck—with his team members from Jus Now was something he was extremely excited about. Jus Now has produced many local anthems, including Bunji Garlin’s Truck On D Road, Big Bad Soca and The Struggle, as well as Junction by Machel Montano, among others. Other members include Tyronn “Blasé Vanguard” Wilson, Jerome “Serocee” Thompson and Sam Chadburn. “Just after last Carnival, they got in contact and said, ‘Hey, well, we want to do this concept on the road, and I think you’re the guy to do it,’” he recalled. “If I had a penny for the number of times when I’m playing in a club with Jus Now, and people ask if they can play my drums... so I loved the idea.” He said they had been discussing it for some time, as he recalled and praised the band’s 2017 presentation, Riddim. “They made incredible interpretations of the riddim section for that year’s presentation... So now, the conversation shifted to something that has never been done before.” He said he chose carefully from his “arsenal of drums” along with D Rhythm Army and attached them to the side of the truck using zip ties. They also added colourful drumsticks. The options included bongos, snares, rototoms and timbales. “Essentially, you’re picking drums that could take lash,” he said as he laughed. “And you’re tuning them in ways so that they don’t burst.” They also curated the DJ lineup and featured international DJs like DJ Arthi, DJ Daiky and DJ Shadobeni. “So people were drawn into not just being able to play along with the rhythm section but alongside the DJs.” Local artistes Jimmy October and Preedy performed as well. He described it as a pioneering experience that he continues to receive “encouraging, positive” feedback on. “Seeing the joy on people’s faces was absolutely gratifying. From the moment we set off, it was just constant. And that’s the beauty of this experience because it’s an unscripted, unspoken invitation.” He, as well as De Gannes and Maharaj, heaped praises on the youthful Rhythm Army for making it even more spectacular. Its co-founder, Veveak Hargobin, said the team was quite excited but also filled with gratitude as they only launched in 2024 when they were all under 20. “So receiving that call from someone widely regarded as one of the most visionary figures in the industry was truly eye-opening. It meant a great deal to us to know that he saw potential in us and trusted us to help bring his creative vision to life.” And seeing locals and foreigners alike enjoy the experience was “incredibly rewarding” and “breathtaking” for him as they “became immersed in T&T’s musical culture in such an organic way.” “We want people to feel included, to engage with the music and to be part of the energy.” He explained that generally, rhythm sections can go overlooked in the musical landscape. But he maintains they play a significant role in shaping the sound and energy of T&T’s culture. “(Val) created a space where the rhythm section was not just something people glanced at for a moment before moving on... People were able to interact with the music, feel the energy of the percussion and become part of the performance. That kind of participation is what makes Carnival so unique.” He said the process was seamless and thanked the band for creating a warm environment. “(It was) an immense honour and it (was) certainly among the most memorable experiences within the Carnival space... It is something we would gladly do again if the opportunity arose.” De Gannes felt like a “proud big brother” seeing his siblings do well, adding that the project was special to him. “Seeing it was a bit emotional... This tiny truck having such an impact with the people, even from onlookers of the band, and hearing the bass echoing over the other music trucks around it drawing in masqueraders. It really was a sight to see.” As for Maharaj, he was simply happy to see the success of their concept on its first attempt. “It’s definitely going to be a permanent feature in the band. You know we at Lost Tribe are always innovative, so I can’t wait to see where we go in the years to come.”