LA

Zess artist · Bouyon cross-genre collaborator

Lady Lava

"Ring Finger" lands on Cardi B's les plateformes streaming "Summertime Sounds" playlist in August 2025. A cosign from a global superstar, and everything flips for the Trinidad girl: 149,000 Spotify listeners, la presse trinidadienne and Caribbean Posh covering the news within hours, then Zess/Steam Artist of the Year at the Caribbean Music Awards a few months later. Lady Lava isn't a Bouyon artist — she does Zess, Trinidad's fast Soca sub-genre. But her presence on the 2025 Bouyon Bad Riddim with "Cha Cha Cha" proves a neighbouring female voice can shake the whole Caribbean scene at once.

Zesstop mondial cross-genre globalizationCardi B co-signBouyon Bad Riddimcrossover
Role
Zess artist · Bouyon cross-genre collaborator
Origin
Trinidad and Tobago
Period
2020-2026
Genres
Zess · Soca · Bouyon crossover
Territories
Trinidad and Tobago · United States · Caribbean · International

Listen & follow

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Why this profile matters

Lady Lava, born Keisha Harris in Trinidad. The global trigger drops in August 2025 when Cardi B includes "Ring Finger" on her les plateformes streaming "Summertime Sounds" playlist. la presse trinidadienne and Caribbean Posh confirm the cosign within hours. Numbers follow: 149,000 Spotify listeners, Zess/Steam Artist of the Year at the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards — first-ever edition of that category, separate from the Bouyon category (won the same year by Mr Ridge). Billboard publishes a 2025 feature on Trinidad Soca artists confirming her Zess anchor. The Bouyon connection comes through "Cha Cha Cha" on the 2025 Bouyon Bad Riddim — cross-genre collab, not a claim of belonging. Position to hold: Lady Lava stays a Zess artist. But the Cardi B shockwave lifted the whole neighbouring Caribbean female scene at once, Bouyon included.

Verified timeline

  1. Lady Lava builds a Zess signature in Trinidad, a female voice in a male-dominated scene.

  2. "Ring Finger" releases on the Zess market, fast structure close to Soca (around 145 BPM).

  3. August — Cardi B includes "Ring Finger" on her Apple Music "Summertime Sounds" playlist, multi-source confirmation from la presse trinidadienne + Caribbean Posh.

  4. "Cha Cha Cha" appears on the Bouyon Bad Riddim, first Zess-to-Bouyon cross-genre collaboration.

  5. "Pepper Vine" with Machel Montano and Drupatee — chutney soca crossed collaboration.

  6. Caribbean Music Awards — Zess/Steam Artist of the Year at the inaugural Zess category (distinct from the Bouyon category).

  7. Billboard feature on Trinidad Soca artists clarifying her Zess positioning.

Tracks / markers

2026

One Bun

solo single

2026

Matrix (Rose Riddim)

single · Rose Riddim

2025

Ring Finger

Zess single (around 145 BPM) — Cardi B co-sign on Apple Music "Summertime Sounds"

2025

Cha Cha Cha

Bouyon Bad Riddim — Zess-to-Bouyon cross-genre collaboration

2025

Pepper Vine

with Machel Montano and Drupatee — chutney soca / crossover

Same movement

TIITII NBA rides the same wave. His current single is out.

Play the single

Sourced musical collaborations

Related chapters

Chapter IX — Global CrossoverChapter X — Women of BouyonChapter XII — Consecration and Limits

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lady Lava from?

Lady Lava is from Trinidad and Tobago.

Sources

  1. Apple Music — One Bun (Lady Lava, 10 mai 2026)

    https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-bun-single/6768838888
  2. Apple Music — Lady Lava, page artiste (Matrix, Rose Riddim, 7 juin 2026)

    https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lady-lava/1184738851
  3. Trinidad Newsday — Cardi B lists Lady Lava's "Ring Finger" as a must-listen

    Primary confirmation of the Cardi B co-sign, August 2025.

    https://newsday.co.tt/2025/08/12/cardi-b-lists-lady-lavas-ring-finger-as-a-must-listen/
  4. Caribbean Posh — Lady Lava "Ring Finger" on Cardi B's Summertime Sounds

    Independent secondary confirmation of the Cardi B co-sign.

    https://caribbeanposh.com/lady-lavas-ring-finger-shines-on-cardi-bs-summertime-sounds-playlist/
  5. Apple Music — Cardi B Summertime Sounds playlist

    Official Apple Music playlist including "Ring Finger".

    https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/cardi-b-summertime-sounds/pl.bf9890a4e667467ab77c0f47ea1affac
  6. Billboard — Trinidad Soca artists, Lady Lava Zess positioning

    Zess positioning clarified on Billboard 2025.

    https://www.billboard.com/music/features/trinidad-soca-artists-full-blown-lady-lava-tendaji-caribbean-music-carnival-2025-1235914118/
  7. Caribbean Music Awards 2025 — catégorie Zess/Steam inaugurale

    First Zess/Steam edition, distinct from the Bouyon category.

    https://www.caribbeanmusicawards.com/
  8. Spotify — Lady Lava profil et « Ring Finger » track

    Official profile and tracklist including "Ring Finger".

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WJps7HNM1yNBed5t6ptQJ

Profiles linked by musical collaboration

Into Bouyon?

Go listen to TIITII NBA, the artist carrying the wave.

Listen to TIITII NBA