At the Montreal International Jazz Festival 2026, the Guadeloupe-born artist opened up about his genre-blending sound, his latest project Siwo Boy, and why movement is at the centre of his music.

Montreal has always been a city where different sounds, cultures and creative communities collide. For Marvin Caleb, that spirit of openness is exactly what makes the city feel like home.

Originally from Guadeloupe, the artist has spent the last several years developing a sound that blends Caribbean rhythms, hip-hop, R&B and amapiano into something uniquely his own. His performance at the 2026 Montreal International Jazz Festival reflected that same energy: fluid, expressive and impossible to place into a single category.

For Caleb, music has never been about choosing just one lane.

“I listen to everything,” he says. “It’s all in our bones.”

Growing up in Guadeloupe, Caleb was surrounded by dancehall, reggae, rap, hip-hop and Latin music. Rather than seeing these genres as separate worlds, he absorbed them as part of the same musical landscape.

That openness continues to shape his work today.

Marvin Caleb’s Montreal Journey

Moving to Montreal expanded Caleb’s creative possibilities, connecting him with new collaborators and different approaches to music-making.

“I wanted to change how music was done,” he says. “I wanted different backgrounds, different approaches, people from Toronto, New York, Miami bringing something I wouldn’t normally have.”

Those collaborations didn’t take him away from his roots; they helped him explore them further. His music continues to carry the warmth and rhythm of the Caribbean while embracing the diverse influences found throughout Montreal’s music scene.

That evolution is especially clear in his latest project, Siwo Boy, a body of work that took nearly two years to complete.

Instead of creating a collection of disconnected singles, Caleb approached the project as a complete statement.

“From the start, we knew we wanted to make this a statement,” he says. “We had one song, and we built everything around it.”

The project moves between energetic dance tracks and more reflective moments, capturing both movement and introspection.

While Siwo Boy explores different emotions, Caleb says the project is ultimately about more than just relationships.

“It’s not just about love,” he explains. “It’s about how I see life. Resilience. Motivation. Everything we’re going through.”

Bringing Movement to the Stage

That same mindset carries into Caleb’s live performances.

Rather than simply recreating his recordings, Caleb uses each performance as an opportunity to reshape his music in the moment. Songs evolve, energy shifts, and the audience becomes part of the experience.

“The goal is to make people feel comfortable in their bodies,” he says. “To enjoy the moment.”

For Caleb, dance is more than part of the performance; it is a form of connection and release.

“The body is the only thing we can really control,” he says. “So dancing is a way to let it go.”

That philosophy was clear during his Montreal International Jazz Festival performance. The show felt less like a traditional concert and more like a shared experience, encouraging audiences to participate rather than simply watch.

A Different Approach to Making Music

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Caleb’s creative process also reflects his belief in collaboration and audience connection.

Before releasing new songs, he often tests them live to see how people respond.

“We perform songs before they’re recorded,” he says. “Depending on the feedback, we decide.”

It is an approach rooted in the idea that music is meant to exist beyond a recording; it should be experienced, adapted and shared.

Despite gaining more recognition, Caleb isn’t focused on chasing a specific definition of success.

“My dreams are already happening,” he says. “I get to make music. I just want to keep going, stay healthy and evolve.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to expand his performances with larger bands and more live instrumentation, continuing to explore the possibilities of his sound.

“I’d love something with more instruments,” he says. “Something more musical in that sense.”

Marvin Caleb represents the kind of artist that makes Montreal’s music scene so exciting: someone who carries his history with him while remaining open to new influences. From Guadeloupe to Montreal, his music exists somewhere between cultures, genres and experiences.

His performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival was not just a showcase of where he is now; it was a glimpse into where his sound could go next.

Looking for more ways to enjoy Montreal this summer? Check out Best Kept Montreal’s guide to a summer night out at the Casino de Montréal.