Icom's Blog (777)

With all the soca being released it feels like there is a Trinidad Carnival looming but alas there isn’t and the content of the songs reflects that. From Machel Montano to MX Prime, soca is finding a way to make us reminisce and long for the day when we can enjoy a fete again. For now, however, you just need to visit your favourite streaming platform to get your soca fix.

Here are the songs that Jus…

Ever since it was announced that Trinidad and Tobago's 2021 Carnival celebrations would be cancelled because of COVID-19, enthusiasts of the national festival have been feeling a tad maudlin.

This feeling of longing for what's been lost—usually in cases of unrequited love—is what Trinbagonians call tabanca, and there are few things they love more than their Carnival. Enthusiasts are already feeling the…

There is no Carnival 2021 in Trinidad, but there will be a Soca Monarch. A version of the competition will be held online, according to creative director for International Soca Monarch (ISM) Simon Baptiste, Trinidad and Tobago’s Sunday Newsday reported on January 17.

In a telephone interview with Sunday Newsday, Baptiste confirmed the competition is on with the management team seeking sponsorship for…

There may be no parades or actual fetes happening in Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival 2021 but the annual festival will be celebrated in the virtual space thanks to COVID-19.

From fetes to concerts, private events will continue in 2021 across various virtual platforms.

Iwer George raised the curtain on the virtual Carnival on Boxing Night launch and he plans to…

The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) is currently in talks with online service providers to virtually stage the various Calypso Monarch competitions in 2021.

This was confirmed to Soca News by Lutalo ‘Brother Resistance’ Masiba during an interview.

He said there had been great feedback from Calypsonians, who already had contributions to…

Aaron “Voice” St Louis possibly echoed what a lot of people were feeling when they looked at this year’s Sekon Sunday when he said, “Yuh know how long I ain’t feel so boy.”

The annual Carnival event was held on January 10 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, and merged the virtual and the live audience, following restrictions caused by the covid19 pandemic. While many events have been kept to the virtual realm – with…

The Downtown Owners and Merchants Association’s (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud’s suggestions for a scaled-down Carnival is a case of too little and too late, according to Carnival stakeholders.

Carnival stalwart and promoter of pioneering Carnival events like Coca Cola Youth Fest and Ladies Night Out, Randy Glasgow, said while he commended Aboud for thinking about the industry, Carnival was a massive…

Despite the physical lockdown of Carnival 2021, many organisations and artistes are working around covid19 restrictions and hosting virtual concerts and fetes.

And similar to any other year, the party is starting right after Christmas.

For example, there were at least three virtual concerts on Boxing Day including Kes the Band, Neil “Iwer” George,…

With the entertainment industry shut down and soca artistes grounded, some have ramped up their social media presence, connecting with their fans in ways they never had time to before.

If there was a contest for the artiste with the best social media presence now, that title would probably go to Nadia Batson.

From very early in Trinidad and Tobago’s lockdown in…

Soca artiste Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart has been discharged from hospital. He had been hospitalised since October 13 with lung and kidney issues. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise funds to assist with medical expenses.

His manager Giselle Gellineau-Penrose told Newsday on Thursday that the singer was discharged from hospital on Wednesday and is resting comfortably at home after successful…

Soca artiste Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart has been discharged from hospital. He had been hospitalised since October 13 with lung and kidney issues. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise funds to assist with medical expenses.

His manager Giselle Gellineau-Penrose told Newsday on Thursday that the singer was discharged from hospital on Wednesday and is resting comfortably at home after successful…

Olatunji Yearwood says don't stop the Carnival.

That’s the gut-wrenching plea from the energetic singer in the face of the postponement and possible cancellation of Carnival 2021.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley put every masquerader on high alert when he recently hinted that the festival may not be possible, given the current circumstance of the global COVID-19…

In recent times Soca has emerged from being a local style of music to one of the top genres in the Caribbean, thanks to lovers of the genre that have pushed Soca as a way of life.

One of those Soca lovers is Julian Hackett, whose music platform JuliansPromos, recently became the first 100% Soca Music YouTube channel to surpass 1 million subscribers worldwide.…

K-Mix & Socaboy who were known together as DJ Close Connections (CC) have announced an end to their era. Close Connections which was started by Soca Flex as a crew in 2003 took to their social media last weekend to share the rather unfortunate news which came as a shock to many Fans.

In the past Close Connections have released at least 15 mixes a year, including Mixtape of Kings of NYC, Soca…

For many, it’s about getting the likes and being popular on as many social media platforms as possible. But for Karyce “Savanna” Phillips it's about singing and creating music because she loves it.

Savanna is no stranger to the music industry as she is the sister of Kyle and Kasey Phillips of Precision Productions, and the daughter of WACK 90.1 FM’s owner, Kenny Phillips. She recently released her first…

Musician Courtney Robb, a former member of legendary Jamaican band, Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, has died in Florida. Frankie Campbell, chairman of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artists and Affiliates (JAVAA) and bass player for Fab 5 band, told The Gleaner that Robb, who had been battling health issues, passed away last Friday.

Robb, a bassist, played an integral role in pioneering ska,…

Saturday 5 September saw the launch of a new children’s mas band, Future Mas, a collaboration between UCOM and Caribbean Sessions. For the launch event they were joined by Gemz Mas, who also have a section in the band; their theme is Ashanti Safari.

Future Mas’ theme for 2021 is ‘Moonlight over the Serengeti’, and you can view their costumes at futuremas.co.uk from the 14 September. There are three…

Despite the cancellation of the Saint Lucia 2020 carnival season, the ever-enterprising Zinaida McNamara-Phillip has added the title of Executive Producer to her list of business ventures, with her involvement in the production of the Big Mood Riddim. The riddim, which was released in June and features Shemmy J, Jadel, V’ghn, Skinny Fabulous and Hollywood HP, was built by Miguel Joseph of Vibez Productionz.…

Trinidadian soca star Nailah Blackman will be evermore radiant as she performs virtually on Friday during the West Indian American Day Carnival Association’s (WIADCA) first ever virtual Brass Fest.

Born on Dec. 2, 1997, Blackman is not only a singer but also a songwriter.

Her grandfather, the late Garfield Blackman, also known as Lord Shorty or Ras Shorty I,…