Rising Riddims: A New Spin on Belizean Sounds

A music project that began in May 2025 is bringing experimental sounds rooted in Belizean rhythms to audiences in Orange Walk and Belize City this weekend.

Rising Riddims continues tonight, September 18, at the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., before moving to the Belize City House of Culture on Saturday, September 19, also from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The shows are free.

Producer Deron Thompson of Belize Sound Syndicate says the project is focused on developing sounds that combine Belizean musical traditions with modern genres.

“It’s a bit of an experimental sound,” Thompson said, naming two genres the team has been developing: xPunta and Boom & Chill.

Thompson said xPunta combines elements of house music, alternative music and punta, while Boom & Chill takes from Boom & Chime and incorporates traditional instruments such as the jawbone and boom drum with modern chord progressions.

“It has like a dancehall feel, you can do some reggaeton on it. It has a very unique sound,” he said.

Artist Seth Cambranes, known as Flayed Lotus, says the project is also working with artists from different parts of the country. The lineup includes Flayed Lotus, Xhaba, Bad Bwau, Mocha, Stina and Viv, among others.

Cambranes said the goal is not to remove the cultural elements from Belizean music but to build on them. “A lot of our music is very rhythm-based,” he said. “We’re not removing anything, we’re just adding to it. We’re only adding to the rhythms that we have.”

DJ and producer Kristopher Arnold says he sees potential for the music to develop into something new while giving Belizean music a more modern and youthful appeal.

“I personally see a vision of this music going places, taking Belize’s music industry a little bit further than it is at the moment,” Arnold said. He said it has the potential to create a slightly new genre while bringing a more youthful appeal to Belizean music.

Thompson said Rising Riddims is part of a broader effort to encourage originality in Belizean music and develop a unique sound that could help artists take their music beyond Belize.