By Desilon Daniels
Come February 8 in Berbice, 18 Guyanese musicians will duke it out during the semi-final round of the 2014 Carib Soca Monarch Competition. This week, The Scene presents the first 9 contenders:
Jamal ‘G Money’ Gittens
No stranger to the competition, this is G Money’s fourth entry. He revealed that he was unknowingly entered into the competition by his brother, who has also entered. He is not too enthused and had almost backed out, but decided to go along with it. “I’m just gonna mosey on through it,” he said as he is confident enough in his work. According to G Money, his entry “Wining Session” is the best of his soca songs. It centres on the lure of a good party and how, even when you want to leave, you just can’t seem to.
Levar ‘Ahzula’ Gittens
‘Ahzula’, G Money’s brother, is a first-time competitor in the Soca Monarch Competition who is ready to show Guyana exactly what he can do. Ahzula is usually the “background man” but figured that it was time to “show everyone how it’s done”. He comes from a musical family and has produced a number of songs, including his brother’s entry this year, Ernesta Nelson’s and another competitor’s. He describes his song, “De Bouncing Stop” as energetic with an African rhythm which matches perfectly with his stage name, Ahzula. The name, he revealed, comes from an African word meaning “Champion” and couldn’t be more fitting. “I see this competition as more than a competition. It’s more of a way to go up and enjoy yourself as a Guyanese musician.” he said.
Asked why he secretly entered his brother into the competition, Ahzula said that his brother had great potential and needed motivation. Though they will be competing against each other, he said they will still be a team. He hinted at their
future participation in the competition as a duo.
Natoya London
Another first time competitor, Natoya London was encouraged to join the competition by local musician Charmaine Blackman. However, London is no newcomer to competitions; she was in the Junior Calypso competition in 2009 and entered the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition last year. Her entry, “Mass” focuses on the way persons tend to discourage others and tells naysayers, in no uncertain terms, to learn to do things their own way if they are displeased. The 22-year-old said that her gift from God is her ability to never get nervous onstage. “I know it’s going to be a good night but I’m not going to compete but to entertain.” she said. She added that patrons could expect “a lot of energy and just Natoya; nothing more, nothing less.”
Abigail ‘AJ’ James
Hoping to cop the coveted title this time around, Abigail ‘AJ’ James is entering the competition for a second time. Her song, “What You Can Do With Yuh Bumpa” was written and composed by Bonny Alves. She said that the first time she heard the song she went, “WOW!”, finding it perfect for her because she “has a very good bumpa and can work it.” As a professional dancer, AJ knows she can execute the dance moves needed for the performance well, but is still a bit nervous. She grew up in a house of calypso music, her father being the late “Mighty Intruder”, so soca is a bit foreign to her. Nevertheless, she is confident that she can handle it. She intends to “bring it” and said that the audience can expect “a lot of bumpa! It will be Abigail at her best.”
Roger ‘Roger B’ Bowen
There’s a possibility that he might drop out of the competition, but Roger ‘Roger B’ Bowen is determined to try his hardest to make his possible fourth appearance at the annual Carib Soca Monarch Competition a memorable one.
‘Roger B’s complications with the competition lie with the fact that he is a member of the band for the annual calypso competition and both events are slated for the same night: one in Bartica and the other in Berbice. He is trying to find a
replacement to perform in the band, if he doesn’t he will be forced to drop out of the Soca Monarch Competition. He expressed that he is not feeling as confident as he was last year. However, he is proud of
his entry. The song, titled “Love”, offers a glimpse into the current events in Guyana, especially the cases of murder and domestic violence. “I wanted to make a change; I didn’t want to come back with the wining and stuff. I feel there is a message that needs to be sent.” ‘Roger B’ promised that, if he is able to perform at the semi-finals round, the audience can expect high-energy and his best.
Ernesta Nelson
Another known face in the competition arena, Ernesta Nelson promised a great show during her second attempt at the Soca Monarchy. Ernesta has entered the Junior Calypso thrice and has won the top spot twice, copping the second place last year. Last year, she was in the finals of the Carib Soca Monarch Competition and has made it into the finals of the GT&T Jingle and Song competition twice. Her song, “Ridiculous Wining” was conceptualized in Barbados during a recent visit to collaborate with musician Lil Rick. She was presented with a track by one of popular Trinidadian artiste Machel Montano’s producers and instantly knew that her song had to be given its title. Part of the song was written in Barbados and the other part in Guyana when she returned on Monday. “I expect great things from this song because it is catchy and one that anyone can relate to.” she said. On the night of the semi-finals, Ernesta will be “putting on a great show. I love to take control of the stage; the stage is a part of me. So I’ll just go out there and wow the judges and the audience.”
Clifton ‘Passion’ Adolphus
“This year I’m coming as a different artiste; I want to do songs on people and social issues,” Clifton ‘Passion’ Adolphus shared. The six-time competitor in the competition said that this year he feels prepared. For the past three years, Passion had been working on his skills and even went to music school to learn the theoretical aspect of the art. His song, “Cost of Living”, focuses on the plight of an ever-increasing cost of living in Guyana. The idea came to him from his conversations with fellow citizens. “When I meet the people them in the street I hear their cries and the things that affect them.” The song, produced by Mark Hall and engineered by Ray, is an interesting fusion of soca, reggae, and calypso. The veteran hopes that his song on social commentary will add some variety to the competition; “The way the competition is set up, we see a lot of similar songs done the same way. That’s why all the songs sometimes end up being the same thing one after the other. Some of the songs this year are trying to stray away a bit from that…but we need to get our songs up to international standard and get them played not only for soca monarch but for
past that.”
Passion already knows what he plans to give the people; “Guyana’s going to get the passion. They’re going to see a bit more passion into the music! I can only give them passion and no other artiste.”
Timeka ‘Lady T’ Sinclair
Hailing from Ithaca, Berbice, first-timer Timeka ‘Lady T’ Sinclair hopes to hit the road and wow the audience come February 8. The outspoken young woman explained that she had entered the competition because she felt she had the talent and the potential to make it. Her song, “Hit the Road”, is based on the hype and excitement surrounding Mashramani. “A lot of people are waiting to celebrate; Guyanese get together and head to the park together, dressed in their costumes and are ready to have fun. A lot of people waiting for the special moment to celebrate and wine in the streets. So, I’m sending out a message; it’s all about waiting to hit the road,” she said. The singer/dancer explained that though she wrote the song, she was aided by fellow competitor ‘Passion’. The song was produced, she said, by Ruff Cut Cody at the same time she wrote her lyrics. “We just stood there and I sang and Cody worked on the track right there and then.”
Though she shared that she received some negative comments from other competitors, she is determined to not back down. “They’re only making me stronger; may the best man win. Everyone just has to go out there and do their thing. Whoever deserves it will win. We just gotta put our best foot forward and do what we have to do.”
Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson
Eager to please the fans, Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson is entering the competition for a second time with plans of taking it all the way this year. The comedian, actor and all-rounder had entered the competition last year and had been awarded second place. This year, he will be telling a story with his song “Still in the Game”. Initially, it had not been a song he had been planning on entering into the competition with but, after support from a number of persons including Gordon Moseley, he decided to give it a shot. Kwasi Ace revealed that when he received the track from his producer Ken ‘Da Beatmaker’ Taylor at one in the morning, he had begun working on it immediately. By day-clean, he had a finished product.
His song has been mentioned as one of the best by fellow competitors Jonathan ‘Lil Red’ King, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts and Kemmyanna ‘Kemmy’ Garnett.
When asked about his odds against his competitors Ace explained that he underestimates no one; “I look at everyone on the same level. I just gotta go out there and do the best I can do, to the best of my abilities. I expect the best of everyone.”
On semi-finals Ace said the audience can expect to be entertained; “I don’t like giving people short stuff…I will be giving them the full package.”
