Leonce Taylor is ‘Addicted’ to soca

In 2005, she was asked to join The Request Band, a soca-band based in New York. She recounts the story of meeting the band’s leader, Rayzor, at a party and being invited to audition as a front liner: “I didn’t know I was auditioning for a show, the headliner of which was Denise Belfon. That’s how it all started.” She says becoming an artiste required her also learning the dynamics of band culture as opposed to being an individual act. “I’m actually still growing and still nurturing my craft,” she adds of the never-ending learning curve of being a performer.

Known for her vocal techniques and style, she recounts a story of Machel Montano once congratulating her on a rendition of Destra Garcia’s “Lucy” at a Six Flags Great Adventure show. “I’ve been told I sound like her,” she says shyly, “but personally I don’t think I sing like her, because she have vocals to kill; she does belt.” She says her performance techniques are also high energy: “I doh play when I go on the stage, I’m not a high heel shoes type of artist; I move around a lot. It’s very explosive, myself and Rayzor are known for energetic and highpowered performances.” She says a significant difference in performing in TT for the Carnival season and back in the US where she lives, is the longevity of the carnival season stateside. “There’s no on and off button,” she says of the season in the States, pointing out that the immigrant populations are diverse in nationalities and therefore have countless yearlong carnival celebrations respectively. “But the Trini audience is more receptive to new artistes,” she acknowledges, citing younger generations of soca fans welcoming new and even foreign soca artistes who “know what they’re about” in their delivery.

To date, Leonce’s soca release for 2016 “Warn Dem” has garnered nearly 200,000 views on YouTube. This year, her release titled “Addicted” (Island Life Riddim, Optimus Productions) is a departure from her usually edgy, raw, Ragga-Soca style. “This one, I sing a little bit more in it, it’s groovier than normal.” For the season this year, she decided to slow down her pace a bit; still visible but taking a lighter approach.

“The business of soca and the soca business are two different things. The business itself is very tricky but loving the music and the atmosphere of the music, that is what drives me,” she says of what motivates the work she puts into her career as an artiste. “The love I have for the music, the adrenaline it has; it’s such a loving type of music. And what it [derives] from: the artists and calypsonians from before that displayed so many aspects and layers of the music is what I grew up on. It’s all I know.” She says while the genre continues to evolve she will move with the times but never forget the foundation put down by calypso greats before her (she cites McArtha “Calypso Rose” Lewis as an inspiration and describes Ella Andall’s voice as “sick”).

She explains that living as a soca performer in the US means being surrounded by soca 365 days a year. “Some people say the whole atmosphere of the soca industry is based on Carnival, the mas playing, the rum drinking, the fetes. It’s not like that for us, we live it and breathe it everyday,” she explains. She also gains inspiration from old tapes of calypso and soca performances from years past.

“We get our inspiration from looking at the tapes and the elders singing … to mould what we do better.” As for the women in the local soca industry currently, she gushes there are countless names that she reveres and looks up to, including Destra and Fay-Ann Lyons who are both mothers and take the time for both their careers and their families. “Yes, it’s a man’s world and men dominate the business but they don’t worry as we do. We maintain houses, homes, families, and still come out and work. It’s harder [as a woman],” she voices of the respect female artistes garner for their constant work and sacrifices.

As a whole, she believes in all women being independent and staying on track with aspirations and meeting goals. “Channel your energies into what you need to do so it can manifest into something great and big. That’s woman power!” she encourages.

She’s already thinking about her year ahead. She’s been in touch with St. Lucian producers and has also been speaking with local songwriters about next year’s Trinidad Carnival soca song. Although much of her career and performance takes place overseas, she represents TT proudly.

“Anywhere the band goes, when I’m performing I carry the TT flag on my back.

Soca is Trinidad born and this is our culture.

The Request Band is overwhelmingly proud. I think most Trinidadians are,” she describes the patriotism both she and her band mates feel and display.

Her greatest praise goes out to the fans of soca music, without who she knows her talents would not thrive. “The most fullling part is moving old and young people alike. The best part of it is if your audience loves you. Every time you go on the stage, you have to remember the audience.” As for the soca music she holds so dearly, which inspires her to continue creating, working, and bringing joy to others, she says, “It’s a great feeling to know you’re a part of it and doing something to make the business better.” 7