Icom's Blog – January 2020 Archive (22)

Kees Diefferenthaller has maintained the number one and number two spots on the Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago’s Top 20 Radio Play list for four weeks straight.

His contributions ‘Dear Promoter’ and ‘Boss Lady’ continues to heat of the charts, which is followed by Swappi and Ultimate Reject’s ‘Feeling It’ at number three, ‘Carry On’ by Patrice Roberts at number four and rounding out the…

The energy was high in the Bungalow on the corner of Rust and Grey Streets on Thursday night, as scores of media personalities, industry professionals, socialites and specially invited guests gathered to see who would be revealed as the new faces of Digicel Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival campaign.

The telecom had been teasing the reveal for over a week, posting silhouettes of artistes to their social media…

JARDINE "JADEL" LEGERE does not mind her “slow growth” in the soca industry. She has seen many people come and go but she is still here, a testimony to her stick-to-it-iveness.

The Diego Martin singer has released six songs for Carnival 2020 – Hold Me Close, Strings, Link Up, Priority, Closer and Waiting – and she has had hits, such as Take Control and Round and Round.…

Have you ever found yourself at a fete, enjoying the new soca of the season, but it’s when you hear an old, familiar, well-loved tune that you start to “bruk out”?

George “Rocky” Clarke and Terrence “Terry” Seales noticed the trend, combined the old and new, and released The Party Now Start.

The soca song could be labelled as groovy or old school, but whatever…

The format for the finals of the International Soca Monarch (ISM) Competition has not yet been finalised but it should be mostly the same with a few changes.

The Caribbean Prestige Foundation’s Play Whe ISM’s new creative director, Simon Baptiste said he would like to put his stamp on the event but does not want any changes to be an injustice to the brand or the fans.…

The format for the finals of the International Soca Monarch (ISM) Competition has not yet been finalised but it should be mostly the same with a few changes.

The Caribbean Prestige Foundation’s Play Whe ISM’s new creative director, Simon Baptiste said he would like to put his stamp on the event but does not want any changes to be an injustice to the brand or the fans.…

Usain Bolt dropped off a new soca single “Energy To Burn” remix with Trinidad’s own Ultimate Rejects.

Usain Bolt has always branded himself as not just a speedster but someone who can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. He has dabbled in football, having trained with Borussia Dortmund and even played for the Soccer Air World XI charity team. While he has hung up his football cleats, he has taken on…

In case you missed it, soca star, Patrice Roberts was a guest this afternoon on urban radio station, Boomchampions 94.1FM. She had a nice one on one interview and vibes session with hosts, Kevin Baker, SupaHype, Showtime Selvon and DJ Keron who doubles up as Patrice’s official touring DJ. Thing is, the Patrice we heard this afternoon was so in charge of her interview that not even the tricky questions could scare…

Just last year Usain Bolt created a stir when he added producer to his resume with the debut of the Olympe Rose riddim to promote his champagne of the same name. Now, the Jamaican sprint legend-turned-entrepreneur-turned-producer is ready to flex his vocal chops. The soca lover is featured on a remix of ' Energy To Burn' by Trinidadian group, Ultimate Rejects - as a recording artiste.

"I never put…

Gamal Doyle is heating up Soca stages once again in Trinidad and Tobago. Y’all know Gamal right? Yes! Skinny Fabulous! He’s back with pure fire ahead of Carnival 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago, delivering not just a couple hits, but several, among them, another big collaboration, this time with Machel Montano and Neil ‘Iwer’ George.

Skinny has been globe trotting over the past year. His…

Attorney Sunil Rishi Nowbutt has been selected for the semi-finalists of the 2020 edition of Chutney Soca Monarch.

He would compete against 45 artistes at Space, Gulf View, La Romaine next week Saturday.

Nowbutt, a part-time lecturer and radio announcer, said it was his first time entering…

Vincentian soca artiste Gamal "Skinny Fabulous" Doyle came to the defence of fellow performer Hollice Mapp aka "Mr Killa," denying claims that soca music contributed to gender-based violence or objectifying women.

Speaking with Newsday after his appointment as brand ambassador for Martell cognac in Macoya, Doyle responded to comments from Barataria MP and former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan who suggested…

He says he’s got nothing to lose. “I’ve been releasing music, recording professionally since 2005 and I’m yet to make it to mainstream radio. What do I have to lose at this point?” he rationalized. From Guayaguayare, Trinidad, one of the most persistent, hardworking vocalists in the underground Soca music industry, is bursting at the seams, urging programme directors at radio stations across Trinidad and Tobago to create better systems to accommodate…

The de­bate over dance­hall mu­sic be­ing played or per­formed dur­ing the Car­ni­val sea­son in this coun­try has been rag­ing on over the past few weeks. It resur­faced af­ter lo­cal artiste Kern Joseph aka Trinidad Kil­la hit fetes with his 2020 hit “Dyy Zess” but al­so per­formed his pop­u­lar lo­cal dance­hall tune “Gun­man in she hole.” Joseph has had his say on the mat­ter but his man­ag­er, Deli­cia Pat­ter­son, has ex­pressed…

Former Health Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Fuad Khan has infuriated a sea of Soca music supporters this week, his statements on the influence of soca’s lyrics on the minds of would-be domestic violence perpetrators, causing mass hysteria.

Whether they have a right to be angered or not, his statement has hit hard, giving many a contentious topic to weigh in on. His comment comes…

PASSAGE to Asia Restaurant held the seventh edition of Senses, an all-inclusive fete at Jamboree Park, North Valsayn, on Saturday night.

The event, which promised to be the ultimate food and fete experience, did not disappoint as patrons of the $1,000-a-ticket party were treated to an abundance of food and drink choices from as early as a half an hour before the scheduled start.…

The 2019 In­ter­na­tion­al So­ca Monarch win­ner is in Trinidad and he is hop­ing to pick up an­oth­er crown.

But soon af­ter touch­ing down on T&T shores, the Grena­di­an singer found him­self de­fend­ing the genre of mu­sic as he ad­dressed crit­i­cism that some lo­cal so­ca artistes are re­spon­si­ble for men view­ing women as ob­jects, there­fore con­tribut­ing to do­mes­tic…

Producers of the film “Queen of Soca” being shot in Trinidad and Tobago are now crowdfunding to complete the movie. The movie is said to be 85 percent completed and the plan is to release it in cinemas nationwide by the middle of this year.

According to the producers “This is your opportunity to be part of it. We are raising $15,000US to complete the film. No, we are not asking you to give us $15,000. We…

The annual International Soca Monarch is on, says one of the franchise’s directors, Geoffrey Wharton-Lake. He spoke exclusively to Newsday via phone on Wednesday.

He also confirmed that soca artiste Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez will once again be the annual competition’s chairman.

While he promised to provide further details about the competition and its launch in a…

MSJ political leader David Abdulah slammed Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan for blaming domestic violence on soca in a media conference at the MSJ's Lord Street, San Fernando office on Sunday.

Pointing to what he called a "ridiculous" story in a leading newspaper during his first press conference in the new year, Abdulah said the blame fell squarely on members of Parliament.…