Ebuzz News
Machel Montano’s ‘Like Ah Boss’ Documentary, 11 Years In the Making.
Machel Montano’s dedication and undeniable work ethic are the core character traits many will have the chance to see, in the documentary, ‘Like Ah Boss’. The man, who, for over four decades, has worn the crown of King of Soca, says beyond 2026, he plans on shifting his focus to other aspects of music and life, which he knows is necessary at this time. The documentation of his 45- year career in Soca music, took his team 11 years to complete and still, Machel says, there are things that have been left out – things he will eventually include in a subsequent documentary.
In a brief Q&A following the screening on February 10th at Movie Town, Port-of-Spain, Machel said it has not been easy. “This was quite a challenge for us. It took us 11 years to do this and it’s just part of the story. This isn’t even the whole story. This is just what we could’ve done.” The 11- time Road March King added, “It was just like, wanting to share everything with everybody. We have a love, everybody you see on that screen is a love,” said Montano, as he highlighted the dedication of some of his closest team members – one of whom is Soul, who has been at his side since 1986. “That film was really putting out everything that we see, hear and feel – the only thing you couldn’t do was smell or taste, but you could feel it. For me, I was really proud of what they put together,” he said.
Describing seeing the final version of the documentary as a magical experience, Machel told the audience that throughout the process, he made every effort to facilitate whatever was needed by the crew, admitting that it was all he could do amid his extraordinarily busy life.
THE YEAR 2015 WAS PIVOTAL
‘Like Ah Boss‘ was shot primarily in the year 2015. It was a significant turning point for him – a year he had committed to refocusing his attention and removing himself from the International Soca Monarch competition. Machel had vowed to go out ‘Like Ah Boss,’ and that he did, winning the title and going on to perform at several fetes in the aftermath of his crowning moment.
PHOTO: ANIL MATHI
Manager, Che Kothari, in analyzing his experience with Machel over the years, said, “It’s quite ridiculous watching him. We live it everyday. We’re going through it again in this season – back to back to back to back – right after this, we go straight to another show. To document that and to show people the power that you have within – when you have a message and you want to share that with the world and you relentlessly work towards that, that’s something that I’m inspired to shoot,” he said.
Kothari was a professional photographer when he met Machel in 2014 and according to the entertainer, Che’s arrival into his life was the equivalent of answered prayer. He said during one of his moments of vulnerability, in an apartment in the US, having experienced setback, he wrote in his journal the type of person he needed to be his manager and that person proved to be Che Kothari. “We are living in, and creating history and it’s a real honor to be beside this man and to be able to support that,” said Che.
EXPERIENCING DOUBT, FACING CHALLENGES.
“I’m going through some tough times right now, trying to reach the top of the mountain,” said Machel quite frankly, when asked whether he has experienced doubt over the years. “It’s all through the documentary,” he said, noting that as it pertains to the documentary, there was doubt as to whether the film was good enough. “We still don’t think it’s at the quality for us to get it to Netflix because it’s so much old footage that we can’t really get it to look better, to be cleaner. I am the procrastinating perfectionist. This is the first one. There will be another. There’s the Machel Montano book and we’re already working on the next version,” he said, noting that 2025 into 2026 has been a period of tremendous challenge for him. “There is a part of this story that we didn’t tell that is actually very actively happening between 2025 into 2026 and that is probably one of the biggest challenges of my life and that will be told as soon as we finish carnival and hopefully by next year we’ll be able to tell that part of the story,” said Montano.
Machel says there is always doubt. “We are always positively dissatisfied,” he admitted, saying despite the team’s feelings, he hopes everyone will enjoy what has been created for his fans and Soca music lovers around the world.
A NEW DAY IS COMING.
PHOTO : DEVIN ALLEN
A career that some have compared to that of International superstar, Michael Jackson, complete with highs, lows, celebrations and spectacles, Machel Montano says he has learnt and grown a lot over the years. “It’s fun to walk into your closet and put on something different, pretend to be somebody, role play but over the years, through all of that, I have realized that I really should be doing the opposite. Instead of putting on things, I should be taking things off,” he said, going on to explain that he has recently learnt that going inward, is the fastest way out.
Now, the entertainer says he has reached a point where he gets it, and he has nothing more to prove. “I have seen it all, done it all and I have it all, and when you have seen it all, done it all and have it all, you look up and you want to do what is needed.”
As to what is needed at this time, the artiste who recently acquired his Master’s Degree in Carnival Studies, said what is needed is for the children of his country, Trinidad and Tobago to be higher educated, “and not be fully dunce.” He went on to say that the country must also understand that oil and gas is not the richest resource. “It’s the people. It’s the talent. I am about to take that journey,” he said, referring to his plans to ensure that these needs are realized.
‘Like Ah Boss’ hits movie theaters in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on February 12th.
Ebuzz News
Real Party Lovers, It’s Time. The Resurgence is Here. ‘The Gathering’ Will Start A New Wave.
A major effort to recant what is now the norm in entertainment, is here.
One team, one mission – to recalibrate the energy and bring the real party vibe back to what it once was. Radio personality and well known DJ in Trinidad and Tobago, Jus Jase is part of the Timeless Entertainment team. His brothers in the music industry, Jon Boi, Beats By Robin, Franco, Ken Simmons and Kevin Baker collectively agree that the time has come to regenerate interest in the the party scene. They’re the team that’s behind an upcoming event that’s guaranteed to leaving a long lasting impression.
On September 23rd – the night before the Republic Day holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, party people are set to enjoy great music coupled with the perfect ambience, at The Gathering. This highly anticipated event that’s marketed to the grown and sexy, is being held at Sideline Sips- a venue adjacent to the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya. “We’re not new to this. In fact, we’ve been down this road before and we know what’s needed,” said Jase in an interview with Ebuzztt. He said from the days of hosting events at Ambassador Hotel and other venues across the country in the 2000’s to hosting more intimate house parties when venues became a challenge, the Timelesss team of DJs have seen it unfold in real time. Now, they’re prepared to use their knowledge of music, business and promotion to give real music lovers a product they’ll have no problem buying into. “We still have the appetite to deliver that vibe people once experienced at those events back then, today and we’ll be doing that at The Gathering,” said Jase.
Partnering with Abslut Vodka for welcome cocktails and Hookah & Chill to ensure Hookah lovers are catered to, the team is going all out to provide the very essence that makes a grown and sexy party what it should look and feel like. “We’re coming as one army of top tier DJs, powered by a quality sound system in QCW Sounds from East, Trinidad, and as tastemakers in the game, we can say with every bit of confidence, that we will leave every patron thoroughly satisfied,” Jase affirmed.
The event is not a Back in Times party. Music from every period will be juggled with the level of refined expertise that only these seasoned selectors, can deliver. “Early bird $200 tickets are now sold out and $250 tickets are still available, but we encourage everyone to secure them soon. We have a special that offers three ladies on one ticket for the price of just $400,” said Jase, highlighting that a cash bar will be available for patrons’ convenience. “This event is everything people have been asking us for, over the years. We’re catering to the thriving cigar culture with a cigar station as one of our features, along with flavored Hookah, and even a Paparazzi area for the selfie lovers. It will be an overall sexy, mature experience and we want our patrons to come out looking their best and feeling their best to truly enjoy the kind of experience they’ve been yearning for.”
Ready to welcome folks from all walks of life and certainly the young and mature alike, the Timeless Entertainment team is promising music that’ll invoke emotion on September 23rd- music that will be played to make everybody move. “Our team isn’t a team of DJs that are in competition with each other. In fact, we hang out a lot together and we’re a family. This is the energy that will show itself in the way this party feels from beginning to end,” he assured. Jus Jase, like the rest of his crew, understands that music holds immense power and how music is played is essential to how the event is enjoyed. “We formed this alliance after meeting at a party that we were all at in Chaguaramas. We were standing there together and we all had the same facial expression in observing the way the DJs were playing the same old school music. They just were not doing justice to the music. We started laughing about it and that’s how the conversation to create a proper option for party lovers, started.”
From a simple desire to do things the right way for patrons who truly want to get out and have a good time, to now preparing for the first of what they guarantee will be many more to come, Timeless Entertainment is bringing back the heat. “We’ve lost the art of people meeting people at events because of the phone culture over time. People are not going to experience the true authenticity of an event through a phone screen. Over time, there has been a divide in what people do when they come out to party nowadays. Even carnival has suffered from that. We don’t want to encourage that,” said Jus Jase. He says The Gathering will show music lovers just what it means to chase all inhibition away.
The team plans on delivering club-style events across the country. Together, they’re embarking on something that many have been calling for, for quite some time. “We won’t be at this particular venue all the time. We may bring back some clubs again and we’ll eventually do a Boat Ride and other types of events. Timeless Entertainment is bent on showing everyone, everywhere exactly how the party vibe should be.
Around the World
T&T’s Full Blown Taps Into African Music Market, Collaborating with Ghanaian Artiste,Black Sherif.
The Atlantic Ocean has long connected Africa and the Caribbean through history and culture. That connection finds a powerful new expression with “Love Again,” an Afro-Caribbean collaboration between global Ghanaian superstar, Black Sherif and Trinidad and Tobago’s acclaimed songwriting and performing duo, brothers Kory and Kevon Hart of Full Blown.
The single was released globally through EMPIRE on September 4th. Built around themes of vulnerability, healing and the courage to love again, the record arrives at a time when
creative partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean are reshaping the sound of global music.
‘Love Again’ captures the emotional highs and lows of choosing hope after heartbreak. For Black Sherif, whose introspective storytelling has earned him over 1bn+ streams from his previous album “Iron Boy,” over 5bn+ streams across his catalogue, and a global audience, the collaboration represents another step in expanding the dialogue between African and Caribbean music.
For Kory and Kevon Hart, internationally respected producers and songwriters whose work has shaped countless Caribbean hits, it marks an opportunity to showcase their artistry alongside
one of Africa’s defining voices. As Black Sherif continues to share his life through his music, he is not shy about discussing intimacy and love. “Almost all of the necessary affections that I have needed, and have gotten, came from afar, physically and figuratively. As a result, I have a tough time receiving and keeping love or better say intimacy, even though I crave them intensely,” he shared.
He admits that in his adult years this topic “has become one of the greatest discussions in my bedroom mirror and with this project, I have allowed you a glimpse of it.” Remarkably, despite creating this song together, the artistes did so from different parts of the world. They did not meet until the filming of the official music video. The reality TV-inspired video, which drops on October 15th, further celebrates the undeniable musical chemistry between West Africa and the Caribbean – regions whose cultural ties continue to inspire some of the world’s most exciting sounds.
Full Blown’s involvement in this project further supports their continued exploration of themes related to love and relationships. “This project felt natural and fits our vibe and style perfectly,” the brothers expressed cohesively.
Hailing from the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, where Soca music is the dominant genre, a big part of their dream for the genre has always been to carry the sound of Soca music to the corners of the globe, and to collaborate and share their particular vibe with artistes from different cultures. “This project is another step forward for Full Blown. We’re keeping our
dream alive,” said the duo.
As Afrobeats continues its global rise and Caribbean music expands its international reach, ‘Love Again’ reflects a broader movement bringing African and Caribbean artistes closer together. Rather than borrowing from one another, the record celebrates a shared musical lineage while pointing toward an increasingly connected future.
‘Love Again’ is one of 6 tracks featured on his EP titled SUN SHERIF, which is set to follow the success of his second studio album.
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Ebuzz News4 days agoReal Party Lovers, It’s Time. The Resurgence is Here. ‘The Gathering’ Will Start A New Wave.
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Around the World5 days agoT&T’s Full Blown Taps Into African Music Market, Collaborating with Ghanaian Artiste,Black Sherif.
