Kes’ "Cocoa Tea" Takes the Music World by Storm
Kes’ Latest Release
Kes’ first release for Carnival 2025, "Cocoa Tea," has taken the music world by storm, quickly climbing the ranks on major streaming platforms and topping the US iTunes Reggae chart. Released on November 15th, the track has captivated audiences across the globe, breaking records and topping playlists in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean.
East Coast US Tour
Just days after the release, Kes kicked off their third annual East Coast US tour, rocking packed venues in Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, Silver Spring (Maryland), Norfolk (Virginia), Raleigh (North Carolina), and Atlanta (Georgia) from November 24 to December 5. The success of the tour is mirrored in the rapid rise of the song’s lyric video on the band’s YouTube channel, which hit an incredible 1,000,000 views in just two weeks. The track has been added to thousands of streaming playlists, amplifying its reach even further.
International Success
The song is also making waves internationally, ranking #3 on Toronto’s local pulse Spotify chart and topping Shazam charts in 20 different regions. "Cocoa Tea" has climbed to the top of the charts in countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Antigua, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, and Dominica, among others. It’s also gone viral on TikTok, where it’s been featured in 66,000 videos, with 32,000 using the original sound. All told, the song has generated an impressive 61 million views on the platform.
Behind the Song
The track was written by Kes frontman Kees Dieffenthaller, along with Tano and Mical Teja, and features background vocals by Tano, Coutain, and Terri Lyons.
Message from Kees Dieffenthaller
In a heartfelt message to fans, lead singer Kees Dieffenthaller expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support. Reflecting on the band’s journey, he recalled a time when Kes struggled to get airplay, even in their home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
IZWE 2025
To celebrate their incredible journey, Kes will mark their 20th anniversary with IZWE 2025, a special event scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, at Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain. Limited pre-sale tickets were released online on November 18 via their official websites, kestheband.com and izwefestival.com.
Stay Connected
Stay up to date with all things Kes by following @kesofficial on TikTok and @kesthebandofficial on Instagram for the latest news and updates.
FAQs
Q: What is Kes’ latest release?
A: "Cocoa Tea"
Q: How well has "Cocoa Tea" performed on streaming platforms?
A: The track has garnered over three million plays, with 1.9 million on YouTube, over 400,000 on Spotify, and nearly 500,000 on Apple Music.
Q: What is the song’s ranking on Toronto’s local pulse Spotify chart?
A: #3
Q: How many views has the song generated on TikTok?
A: 61 million views
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