Erphaan Alves

There he will be performing the up-tempo, “Hearing Ah Talk.”

Alves also has a number of other releases for the 2014 Carnival season, including “Bumper Bounce,” “It Bad,” and “Contagious,” a collaboration with Blaxx (Dexter Stewart).

Alves, who is from Chaguanas, began his singing career at the age of nine when he entered the calypso competition at the Rosary Boys’ RC School. he went on to win this competition for three consecutive years (2001-2003). His songs included “Carnival Time”, “Put in a Slang” and “Thank you Sir”.

He moved on to St George’s College, Barataria where he participated in several competitions, and was the lead male vocalist of the school’s parang group.

He was the Xante Calypso Monarch, a finalist in the Junior Soca Monarch Competition and he copped the award, “Most Promising Calypsonian” in the Eastern Credit Union Calypso Competition. Alves also entered Music Festival in the Boys Under 13 Solo Category in 2002, and participated in the last Twelve and Under Series in 2003 and was awarded a special prize.

He gained many fans when he entered TT Idol Calypso Competition in 2004 and was the first runner up. That year he was a finalist in the Junior Soca Monarch Competition and the Sound Stage Competition where he won the People’s Choice at the semi-final leg.

In 2005 he won the “Is We Community Developers Calypso Competition” and his song was adjudged best party song. He went on to capture the first runner-up spot in the TUCO National Junior Calypso Monarch Competition with the song, “One Caribbean,” a song which also won him the titles “Best East Zone Performer” and “Best Secondary Male Performer.” He placed second and was awarded the prize for most original calypso at the Chaguanas Borough Secondary Schools Calypso Monarch Competition.

His success did not stop there; he went on to participate in TSTT Party Flava Face Off Song Competition where he placed second. Alves was one of the six finalists vying for soca stardom in the Soca Star Competition hosted by Synergy TV. Although he was the youngest competitor in 2005, he won many fans among the viewing audience. He gained the much needed exposure from the TV show and he was on his way for the big stages in Carnival.

In 2006 he placed second in the Sunshine Snacks National Junior Calypso Monarch Competition, taking the prize for best lyrics. That year he was also a finalist in the Scholarship Competition of Talented Teenagers (SCOTT). This was a memorable years as he was invited to sing in parties held in honour of the Soca Warriors.

In 2007, Erphaan was adjudged Monarch in the Trincity/Petit Juan Lions Calypso competition. He also placed second in Junior Soca Monarch Competition and fourth in the Sunshine Snacks National Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. He was a member of the Sunshine Snacks Junior Calypso Roving Tent from 2005-2008.

“My dream finally came through in 2008 when I was crowned the National Junior Soca Monarch,” Alves said.

This win thrust him into the international spotlight as he performed before a huge crowd as a guest at the International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch Competitions on Carnival Friday night. The event was broadcast live