Soca Monarch — a springboard to success

The International Power Soca and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions, as the two modules are now known, has in the past 15 years served as the launch pad for the international careers of many of the top soca artistes of the day. Several of them having secured recording contracts after having been seen in action on the Soca Monarch stage by record label executives.

One of the pride and joys of the Caribbean Prestige Foundation, founder of the Soca Monarch competition, is Bunji Garlin who in his debut year in the soca arena in 1998 made it to the finals of the competition. The defending monarch this year and three-time monarch, Bunji has become a global phenomena who is regarded as the best freestyle lyricist in the world having been introduced to nations via the Soca Monarch competition.

Another artiste that kicked off his international career on the Soca Monarch stage is Bajan soca artiste, Rupee who after having proved himself in the competition went on to be signed by Atlantic Records. Kevin Lyttle too cut his teeth in the Soca Monarch competition, also being signed by an international recording label.

Having won the Junior Soca Monarch competition, Patrice Roberts moved on to the adult arena where she has proven her worth as a writer and performer. Roberts is now all grown up and will this year pit her skills against the big guns at the finals of the International Power Soca Monarch competition.

Other successful young artistes that cut their teeth in the Junior Soca Monarch competition include Young Marcell and Keegan Taylor who each have developed very successful careers.

CPF will continue to provide the platform upon which the young developing artistes such as this year's Junior Soca Monarchs, Erphan Alves in the Secondary School category and Timmell Rivas in the Primary School category will ascend onto the international arena to stand alongside their senior peers to continue the legacy created by the likes of Lord Shorty, Mighty Sparrow, Shadow, SuperBlue, Ronnie McIntosh, Iwer George and others.

And through the now truly universal International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions CPF will continue to take the music of Trinidad and Tobago to the globe to be enjoyed by millions in countries around the world, while signalling Trinidad the only place to be every year between the months of January and March when citizens from every nation journey here to experience our Carnival and of course the Superbowl of soca music, the International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch Competition.