Ras Cas making musical waves in the Pacific archipelago
By Michael Mondezie
Christopher Castagne has made himself at home in Hawaii.
The Trincity-born singer and songwriter, known on stage as Ras Cas, openly shares the calypso, pan and soca music of T&T with his curious neighbours in Maui, located in the middle of the Hawaiian archipelago.
“They don’t really know soca and calypso, but when they hear it they love it,” Cas told the Kitcharee last week. “Oh, and the steelpan…people go crazy for it!”
Sitting down for a virtual interview, Ras Cas’s energy was as warm and welcoming as his music.
“I feel my duty is to pass it on,” he added. “Along with that, I also love music and can’t live without it. With all I was going through, music was my therapy.”
In 2014, a family emergency forced Cas and his then fiancé, now wife, Alysha to move to Los Angeles on short notice. What was planned as a six-month stay became a six-year residency on the American west coast. Just as the couple was planning to return to T&T, the world went into Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. That’s when a new job opportunity in Maui emerged.
“It wasn’t home, but at least it was a tropical island,” Cas shrugged. “Plus, we might have never got to visit Hawaii otherwise, so we bounced!”
As cool as a Pacific breeze
For Ras Cas, music is more than a profession—it’s a calling, a way to honour the rich culture of his homeland, while adapting to the new soundscape of his adopted island. In Maui, he found a community eager to embrace the unique blend of parang, soca, pan and reggae that comprises the hybrid Caribbean sound he calls Kaiflo.
“Kaiflo to me means any modern innovative musical expression in an authentically Trinidadian voice, not just accent but rhythm, instrumentation, etc. When I moved to Hawaii, I brought all of that with me,” he explains. “At one point, I was lead singer in a full calypso band, singing Kitchener and Sparrow one day, then performing with a different band singing songs by Kes and Voice, with reggae all in between.”
In Maui, Ras Cas’s music strikes a chord with people—whether they know the Caribbean sound or not. And it’s not just about playing covers of the greats. While he loves performing the classics—whether it’s Bob Marley or Lord Kitchener—audiences are craving more of his original music.
“I’ve done a full Marley tribute where people come up afterwards and say, ‘We love Bob, but we really wanna hear more of your originals,’” he beamed.
Living in Hawaii has also offered Ras Cas a unique perspective as both an artiste and an educator. In many ways, the Pacific and the Caribbean have parallels—rich island cultures steeped in history and natural beauty. But musically, there’s a gap that he is intent on bridging.
His work in Hawaii has gone beyond just performance. He’s become an ambassador for Caribbean music, introducing people to the sound of the pan, the energy of soca, and the social commentary embedded in calypso.
“I’m always teaching people about these genres, and it’s something I take seriously,” he nodded. “People here are really open to learning about the music, and that’s exciting. They love the energy.”
One of the causes he is championing through his calypso music is the ongoing war in Gaza. He recently shared his advocacy for the people of the embattled Middle East territory at the Hawaii State Capitol.
“I am most passionate about advocating for justice, liberation and universal human rights, and an end to militarism, war, and apartheid. This is the greatest moral crisis of our time, accompanied by the most disgraceful apathy, and the longer we allow it, the worse it will be for us all,” he remarked.
‘Barrel Baby’ and beyond
While Ras Cas has built a solid following in Hawaii, his focus isn’t limited to the islands. With the release of his latest single, “Barrel Baby”, he’s pushing his music out to a global audience, using streaming platforms to connect with fans worldwide.
“The momentum has been building, and I have a few projects in the works,” he reveals.
He’s not just content with releasing singles—he’s thinking bigger, with plans for an album and a tour that would bring him back to the Caribbean.
“As for coming home, we are working on it, and if all goes well, we should be back in the Caribbean performing within less than a year,” he shares.
It’s clear that for Ras Cas, home is never far from his mind, even as he builds a new life in Hawaii. He is already looking ahead to what’s next.
“People can get in touch and follow for more updates on Instagram @rascas_music or on my website www.rascasmusic.love,” he said with a smile.
Ras Cas may be living thousands of miles from T&T, but his heart—and his music—remains deeply rooted in the Caribbean. As he continues to blend the music of his homeland with the aloha spirit of Hawaii, one thing is certain: wherever Ras Cas goes, the music follows.
