As Trinidad and Tobago prepares to usher in another Independence anniversary a daughter of the soil is paying tribute in a most fitting way- in song. Sabrina Marks has released her new single, “Sweet Pan Morning”- a tribute to the national instrument and the country that birthed it.

This sweeping musical tribute to the history, culture, resilience, and spirit of Trinidad and Tobago was skillfully curated by Executive Producer, Michael St. John. The song offers a timely reminder of what unites T&T, celebrating the people, traditions, and cultural contributions that have shaped the twin island nation. 

Combining grand orchestral arrangements with rich Caribbean rhythms, the music takes listeners on a journey through Trinidad and Tobago’s evolving history, tracing a path from the cocoa fields and industrial landscape, to the vibrant culture that defines the country today. 

The track recognizes the diverse communities that form the cultural fabric of the twin islands including people of African, East Indian, European, Chinese, Syrian-Lebanese, and First Peoples heritage. At its heart, “Sweet Pan Morning” celebrates two of Trinidad and Tobago’s most influential cultural gifts: Calypso and the Steelpan. It captures the uniquely national spirit, that allows its people to transform hardship into music, adversity into strength, and everyday life into celebration.

For audiences at home and abroad, the song is an invitation to honour Caribbean roots, celebrate what makes the twin-island nation unique, and recognize a creative spirit that continues to resonate globally. 

“Sweet Pan Morning” performed by Sabrina Marks and Executive Produced by Michael St John is available now for radio airplay, global syndication, and streaming across major digital music platforms. 

The sweetest berry, Anika Berry reached a major milestone in her career with the successful staging of SO SWEET: The Concert, last weekend, in Brooklyn, New York. It was the entertainer’s first self-produced headline concert in the US.

Artistes backed by a live band, the event brought together generations of Caribbean music and featured performances and appearances by GBM Nutron, Lyrikal, the legendary Tigress, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon, Imani Ray, and many others, creating a night that celebrated not only Berry’s journey, but the music and artistes who helped shape the culture she so proudly represents.

Anika Berry’s event was years in the making. Her journey in the Soca space has been built one performance at a time – the young artiste developing her sound, building her audience, releasing music, traveling to perform, and continuing to push forward in an industry where longevity must be earned. Over the years, she has grown from an emerging voice in Soca, into an international performer, while remaining committed to creating opportunities and moments that honor the culture. For that reason, the Brooklyn concert was especially significant.

Stepping into the role of headliner and producer, Anika brought her own vision to life with a full live band, guest artistes, production, and marketing dedicatedly to an audience that answered the call and came together to support the next chapter of her career.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening came when Berry shared the stage with two women whose contributions helped pave the way for generations of female Soca artistes- that moment was standing on stage with both Tigress and Denise Belfon. “The appearance by Tigress became an emotional connection between Soca’s past and present,” said the artiste. “Hearing and reliving “Wo Donkey”, the unforgettable United Sisters classic, on a Brooklyn stage was more than a nostalgic moment,” she added. It was an opportunity to give flowers to a generation of women who helped establish a space for female voices in Calypso and Soca, long before many of today’s artistes entered the industry.

For Berry, being on stage beside Tigress was a full circle experience. The music of the  United Sisters – Tigress, Singing Sandra, Lady B and Marvellous Marva, represented strength, personality and fearless female expression. Their impact continues to live through the women who came after them. The presence of Denise Belfon, another woman whose unmistakable style, stage presence and catalogue have influenced generations of Soca performers, made the tribute even more meaningful. Rather than simply celebrating her own milestone, Berry used her first headline concert to recognize the women who helped make moments like hers possible. The night also represented the range of Soca itself, the event connecting different generations, sounds and audiences under one roof while keeping the focus on live Caribbean music.

For Berry and her team, successfully producing a headline concert in Brooklyn represents more than another performance credit. It marks a transition from being an artiste, working for opportunities, to becoming an artiste capable of creating the opportunity, building the platform and bringing other artistes onto it.

SO SWEET was a celebration of progress, but it was equally a celebration of gratitude.