Ebuzz News
A Bacchanal Call- Mr. Lee Sets the Stage for Real Vibes in 2026.
Moruga born, international restauranteur and artiste, Mr. Lee, is returning to the Soca spotlight, delivering two major singles already, amid the buzz of an incoming Carnival 2026 season in his homeland, Trinidad and Tobago.
Based in the US, the artiste, who is no stranger to the entertainment circuit, is re-establishing himself as a powerful voice, after a 16-year- hiatus. “I’ve been a recording artiste for a very long time. I was a part of a duo called Barber Boys before joining a band called, Cloud 9 in New York, years ago. We opened for Machel Montano, Square One, Krossfyah, Traffik, Bunji Garlin and other major Soca artistes. I also did a lot of recording with Shel Shok back in the day,” he shared.
In 2023, Mr. Lee stepped back into music, having dedicated his hiatus to establishing his restaurant, ‘Jus’ Fishy,’ in New York. “In 2023, I worked alongside Terri Lyons, releasing a single called, “Thanks for Life,” he said, explaining that he immediately felt comfortable returning to Soca. “I had some rust to shake off but that Soca energy is like a fire that’s in your soul. It never dies,” he admitted. His return was fueled by a key link made with Khadeem Edwards of Xklusiv Muzic Productions who worked closely with him, producing each of his songs from 2023 onward. Edwards also wrote Mr. Lee’s reggae single, “It’s Unfair’ and now manages his career. Together, the pair have cemented a valuable partnership, supported by natural chemistry and equally focused vision.
With two singles unleashed so far, Mr. Lee says the encouragement he’s been receiving from his peers in the business, has been really good. “I have a lot of friends in the industry and they’ve all been saying the comeback is as though I’d never left,” he said with a laugh.
Despite that warm embrace however, he says he is ready to work hard and doesn’t want to get comfortable at all. “I have two singles. ‘Bacchanal Clan’ was written by Pronto in New York. He’s a really good writer,” he said, highlighting that the song sits on the Relief Riddim, which was produced by Xklusiv Music Productions and features fellow artistes, Skinny Fabulous, Dev and Rae.
His second single, ‘Welcome Back’ was also written by Pronto with production by Trypp Records and Xklusiv Music Productions. “I had this idea for a track and I reached out to Pronto, went into the studio and like magic, we collaborated in writing the song after I sang what I had in my head, and ‘Welcome Back’ was born.”
For Mr. Lee, music is inherent. Back in 2009, he made it to the semi-finals of the International Soca Monarch, and hopes to enter T&T’s major Carnival competitions in the season ahead. “I’m also working on a Calypso contribution and a Power Soca track, for release soon,” he asserted, making it abundantly clear that he’s dedicated to the music.
A Siparia native by birth who later moved to Moruga, Mr. Lee’s aspirations in music are fueled by the respect he has for career artistes like Machel Montano and Kees Dieffenthaller. “I’m very humble and hard working. I’ve dreamed of someday working with Machel Montano, even though he’s sometimes misunderstood. He’s always been my hero,” said the artiste.
Family his motivation, Mr. Lee moved from Moruga to the United States with Soca on his mind and a strong affinity to Caribbean flavours- something that has propelled him to become a respected chef in New York city. “Moruga taught me a lot about fish and Moruga supports me in a major way when it comes to my music. I’m grateful for both,” he said.
Ahead of Carnival 2026 with ‘Bacchanal Clan’ and ‘Welcome Back’ unleashed, he’s promising non-stop vibes and true Trinbagonian spirit packaged for the long haul. “I’m grateful for the love so far and I can’t wait to see where the journey leads.”
For more on the artiste, follow him on Instagram @mrlee_theartiste.
Ebuzz News
Yung Bredda Headlines ‘SoDa’ Tonight at Fuzion, Trinidad. Big Guest Artistes Expected.
It’s about to be a memorable night for the nostalgic as the once hottest nightspot in West Trinidad, reopens its doors, welcoming the King of Steam, Yung Bredda for ‘SoDa.’
Akhenaton “Yung Bredda” Lewis headlines the event launch which synergies soca and dancehall music and culture. Once dubbed Club Coconuts and later, Fuzion, the event takes place tonight at the famous Trinidad and Tobago venue which is home to the Cascadia Hotel in St. Ann’s. “This is the only place to see Yung Bredda perform all his Steamy hits and get familiar with all his new releases before the Christmas and Carnival takes over,” said organisers in a media statement. “We’re looking forward to seeing all the fans of Steam link up with all the Soca lovers the Dancehall crews, so we can all represent for Caribbean music and culture to close off 2026.”
The SoDa Movement is building a database and will showcase a synergy of Soca and Dancehall music and culture via a series of events, collaborations and music recordings designed in distinctly unique and symbiotic formats. SoDa aims to showcase and highlight the harmony, versatility, similarities and diversity between Soca and Dancehall.
Event Coordinator, Jerome Antoine is a noted, dynamic and enterprising music producer, a Tribe Music Truck Manager and former radio DJ at RED 96.7 FM. He explained that SoDa is NOT another genre, but a social and cultural movement. “The SoDa movement is designed to create, explore and amplify synergies within the Soca and Dancehall industries,” Antoine explained. He said that for more than four decades, the public has listened to and created, enjoyed, made memories with, and celebrated their achievements with tons of Dancehall and Soca music as the soundtrack. “We have even created our own sub-genres like Trinibad and Steam and the artistes and citizens of the Caribbean continue to explore and enjoy both genres and cultures all the time” He noted the effect of the pandemic. “A few years ago and coming out of the pandemic, we saw a void in the entertainment scene and felt the need to blend the two worlds and apply a more engaging and edu-taining approach to presenting their similarities and strengths. Now, we feel like the time is right to celebrate these two genres and cultures, as we prepare for The Greatest Show on Earth in a few months and celebrate the Christmas season and the end of a highly eventful 2025 year.”
SoDa will feature a special performance by Yung Bredda, as well as several guest acts representing Soca and Dancehall. DJs Travis World and Salty, DJ Prodigy and the official SoDa DJ, Lord Hype will provide the soundtrack leading up to and in-between the live action.
Welcome Drinks will be provided by Rudeboy, with Hennessy flowing in the VIP Section, but there will be a fully-stocked bar and HybridTT cocktails available for purchase as well. Social media ravens can prepare for live video interviews on site by Overtime Media, ET&T, Scorch TV, EbuzzTT and MYOB.Enttt.
Ebuzz News
Producer, Stephon Gabriel Follows Passion, Delivers ‘Soft Touch.’
The cheat code to succeeding at everything you touch as a creative, is passion – pure, lingering passion. That’s one Trinbagonian creative’s final analysis of the inroads he’s personally made over the years. Now, jumping from behind the engineering of sounds we know and love from Soca artistes across the length and breadth of the region, to expressing his very own internal truths, Stephon Gabriel is once again following passion.
Gabriel Creative Studios in Couva, is the playground created by this sound engineer. He left his position at Microsoft years ago, to follow his passion, he says, this after returning to T&T, having studied music at USC. “I’ve been in the music industry for over 15 years. From the age of 14, I knew music lived in me. I was the guy at school everyone would come to, to record love songs for their girlfriends,” he recalled with a chuckle. He says those formative years influenced what he would later become. “I got a guitar for my 14th birthday and it was set from there. Since that time, I’ve been heavily involved in both music and film. I’ve worked on a few featured films, including work done as part of the crew on ‘Home and Again’ here in Trinidad,” he said, adding that on the music side of things, he’s worked in some capacity with most of the big names in Soca.
Jumping head-first now into territory he has strongly assisted with, but has never been in the spotlight for, Gabriel releases a new single called, ‘Soft Touch.’ “This song came about because I wanted to express myself. It started with one of my producers I work with – Jumaane, who sent me a couple tracks and I put aside a particular one and then on one random night I listened to it and got to writing. That was three months ago,” he recalled. Now, the track finally completed, after great collaboration with like-minded musicians, Gabriel says he’s eager for the world to hear it.
A mixture of exploration and passion, Gabriel’s latest creative effort adds to his ongoing dedication to effectively positioning Caribbean artistes for international opportunities. “I have a publishing arm of my company called ‘Just In Time Music,’ which aims to bridge the gap between Caribbean creatives and Hollywood and the world,” Gabriel explained, adding, “I have agents out there who work with me to get our music placed into movies and television shows.”
The music producer said he began creating independent songs strictly for film and because it was so well received, he was able to secure several deals, in a relatively short space of time. “I went on to extend the service to creatives here in Trinidad and Tobago but part of the challenge has been educating others on publishing and other aspects of that side of the business,” he admitted.
Optimistic and dedicated, Stephon Gabriel has proceeded to do what he can, to teach others about the ins and outs of the global music industry. He set up a TikTok account, educating fellow Caribbean creatives with tips and other valuable information pertinent to royalties, masters, publishing and the like. “StephanGabrial868 is the channel and as I continue with that effort, I’ll say one of my goals is to one day be able to go to my distributor and choose “Soca” as the genre for the music I deliver,” he said.
Armed with his skills as a music and film professional, Stephon Gabriel’s pushing every envelope – passionately following his heart even into artistry, understanding that anything is possible in today’s world. “I’ve worked on hundreds, maybe thousands of songs for people. My voice is in a lot of songs as well. As a creative you love to do what you love and there are limitations on what you can do on someone else’s song,” he said, noting that doing this new single of his own, offered him the opportunity to do it his way.
“Earlier this year I did what I call a re-imagine of Kees’ ‘Cocoa Tea’ and I went left with it, changing the instruments and posting it online in January. It was surprising to see that it was so well received; I got a lot of engagement online,” he recalled.
Passionate and ready for whatever may come, Stephon has gone all out on the release of ‘Soft Touch.’ “It’s being released with a video and I just want to say the song isn’t a release for ‘carnival’ per say. It’s a song for global appreciation. It’s a groove that can be enjoyed all year long.”
‘Soft Touch’ was written by Gabriel with production collaboratively done by Jumaane, Jaydot, Amiel Duncan and Gabriel himself. The song was mastered by Andre Stewart.
