Rising Trinidad and Tobago artist Kalpee, known for his bright, genre-blending New Calypso sound, transforms reflection into melody with his latest single ‘Heaven So Close.’ The track was inspired by Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, which explores how creativity can flow through artists as a higher form of connection. Kalpee says that the same energy guided him in the studio.
“The book was sitting right there on my desk, and it sparked something. I lit a stick of palo santo, gave thanks for the blessing of being able to create music, and prayed for guidance. Almost instantly, the words began to pour out,” says Kalpee. “I wrote what I was truly feeling in that moment. No boxes, no filter, just honesty, and where the journey had brought me so far.”
Taking cues from Tyla’s fusion of afrobeats and amapiano, and from artists like Naika and Saint Levant, who blend languages and cultures in their sound, Kalpee’s ‘Heaven So Close’ fuses experimental production with raw, vulnerable lyrics about holding on to hope. Written and produced in his London studio, the track grew from a blank Ableton session into something deeply personal — a song he hopes offers comfort to anyone fighting their own battles.
After surviving a serious car accident in 2018, Kalpee poured his recovery into the single ‘Wherever You Are,’ featured on his debut HOME EP (2020). The project earned radio play on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1Xtra, and recognition from Wonderland, EARMILK, CLASH, Complex UK, and Ladygunn.
Over the years, he’s collaborated with industry heavyweights including Carla Marie Williams (Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Sean Paul), Yei Gonzales (Diplo, DJ Khaled), Santiago Rodriguez (Little Mix, Pitbull, Akon), and The Anmls (The Weeknd, French Montana). In 2020, Kalpee launched Iza Island Wave, an artist platform designed to elevate Caribbean talent globally. It has since become a growing international movement, with official showcases at SXSW Austin, SXSW London, Music Matters Singapore, and Jamaica, and plans to expand to Barbados, Dubai, and India.
After a three-year break following ‘Island Gyal,’ Kalpee returned with ‘Everybody,’ a vibrant collaboration with Trinbagonian duo Full Blown that reached No. 5 on the UK Music Week Black Chart. With ‘Heaven So Close’ already gaining traction across student radio and multiple features on BBC Introducing, and another single on the horizon, Kalpee is setting the stage for his upcoming Dougla Boi EP, out November 21st — a body of work that captures his evolution as both an artist and storyteller.
‘Heaven So Close’ is available for listening on all streaming platforms.
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