Caribbean Buzz
A Man on A Mission. This Caribbean Super Producer Dropped His Price and He’s Never Felt Better.
While all that’s happening around us may have us all believe that there’s no good taking place in the world, in Trinidad and Tobago, one music producer is proving that consensus, inaccurate. Randal Alexander is the founder and principal producer at Pengco Music- a music recording lab based in Bon Aire, East Trinidad. He’s changing lives and what’s incredible is the fact that he knows he was ‘called’ to do just what he’s been doing for the past six months.
Alexander’s the music producer behind many songs delivered by well-known artistes in the music industry, among them, Gyptian, Queen Omega and Jah Melody, however, a chain of events that first unraveled his life before reconstructing it, has brought him to a place of great content and humility. A brand new riddim being released this week, which features singer, Orlando Octave, along with young, up and coming vocalists like Incline, Frequency, Roy Simmons and Blacka, reminds Randal of what moved him to be of service to more people, than he ever could’ve been before.
“I had taken some time away from the studio and made the move into agriculture,” he said, explaining that he’d invested in a very large crop of tomatoes and was expected a lucrative payout. “One day, I was in the field and I heard a voice as clear as day. God had spoken to me,” he attested. Randal said he heard God tell him to return to music, but ignored the directive. Sometime after that, he lost his entire crop of tomatoes and all that he had invested when a parasite attacked the field.
Still, he had not heeded. Randal Alexander was not convinced that the music industry was entirely where he wanted to be. He saw the potential in the agriculture sector but as he pointed out, that was not where God needed him to be.
“After I lost the crop, my grandmother, who I was very close to, suddenly passed away,” he shared, highlighting that ultimately, he was again told to return to music when this happened. This time, Randal listened. The house he had grown up in, in Bon Aire, East Trinidad, was established as his new recording studio, and guided by that voice that he believed was God’s, Randal decided to offer his services of recording, mixing and mastering to anyone, anywhere, at the most economical cost by industry standards. “I knew my mission was all about changing lives. I know that records are very expensive to produce and I decided to put the same effort into something that would cost the artist way less, offering the service even to people who otherwise wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford it,” he explained. In the past six months Alexander and PengCo Music has recorded over 100 songs for people from all walks of life, all ages and all backgrounds.
Pooling his resources together and ensuring that people aligned to his mission in areas of Public Relations, Graphic and Video support, and other areas, were on board, Randal Alexander’s effort materialized and began bearing fruit. He realized that his move to reduce cost and focus on serving others, essentially led to him meeting a lot of talented people, while touching their lives in a unique way. “Often time, we don’t understand how effective a simple act can be in making the dreams of someone else, come true. I’m glad I listened to that voice and now, more than I ever, I know that my mission is clear. I don’t have faith, I know!”
This week, Pengco Music unleashes the Scream riddim simultaneously with a video that features the artistes on the riddim. “This part of my journey has been an awakening for me, and I’m just happy that I can touch the lives of others on my way,” he said.
For more on PengCo Music, follow @pengcompany on Instagram.
Caribbean Buzz
Lil’ Bitts Vows Never to Miss de Mas Again as She Prepares for a Jam-packed 2025 Season
After two decades in the business, Lil’ Bitts—aka Shivonne Churche-Isaacs—has made a vow she plans to keep: never again will she sit out Carnival. The multi-talented artiste, known for her infectious energy and stage presence, has had a front-row seat to Trinidad and Tobago’s iconic festival season for years, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. She still remembers the shock she felt when she made the decision to skip the parades on Carnival Monday and Tuesday one season, only to end up physically sick. “I got sick—like, literally,” she admits. “I’ll never ignore Carnival’s call again.”
This year, Bitts is more than ready to hit the streets with Yuma for an unforgettable Carnival 2025. The excitement is palpable as she gears up for what’s sure to be a thrilling season, both on and off the road.
Rising to the Occasion with “Brighter Days”
With five songs under her belt and a growing social media presence, Lil’ Bitts is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the spotlight. Her Instagram and other platforms have become hubs of interaction with fans, opening doors to new collaborations and promotional opportunities. “Social media is the ultimate artiste toolkit,” she says, urging fellow performers to embrace the digital world to connect with their audiences.
One of her most highly anticipated projects is the track “Brighter Days,” which she says has been in the works for three years. Produced by Gaffa Productions, the song has become a personal passion project. “This one is really special,” she shares. “The world needs positivity right now, and I feel like this song is necessary.” She credits the magic of modern technology for making it all come together, working with talented producers like Stemz, District 6 Studios, and Benje Music in hybrid mode from different locations in the region. She’s also collaborated with M1 on a single called “Wetter” for the 2025 season. “We’ve been talking about working together for years, and I’m so happy it’s finally happened,” she says. “M1’s a unique talent; there aren’t a lot of artistes like him.”
A Dream Come True: Chutney and Multi-Cultural Magic
As if things weren’t busy enough, Lil’ Bitts has recently ventured into the world of chutney music. She got a call from the Pungalunks Factory to contribute vocals for a track with Reshma Ramlal, the Warrior Princess herself. The track, “Poowah Nah Ready,” is a dream come true for Bitts, who has always had an affinity for East Indian culture. “When I was a kid, I loved dressing in Indian clothes and watching Bollywood movies. I knew I wanted to do a Chutney song one day, but it had to feel natural. And this—this feels right,” she said. Bitts reflects on how much she’s learned and appreciated about Trinidad and Tobago’s multicultural beauty through this experience. “The energy on set, the unity—it was amazing. We’re one people, and that’s something I never want to forget.” The collaboration has already earned a place in the spotlight, with Ramlal making it into the semi-finals of the Chutney Soca Monarch competition.
Caribbean Buzz
$1 Million Up for Grabs In New Ultimate Soca Champions Competition.
Trinidad and Tobago is set to stage a revamped International Soca Monarch competition in what is now dubbed The Ultimate Soca Champion competition. The event’s final will be staged on Thursday, February 20th, with the semi final round set for Sunday, February 9th. The announcement was made earlier today by organisers, at a media conference held at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain.
The organisers said the competition will not be split into Groovy/Power categories, however they said there will be special prizes for Best Groovy Soca, Best Power Soca and People’s Champion, based on public votes.
The event will feature the Ultimate Soca Champion reality TV show which organizers say is aimed at giving viewers an intimate look into the competition. “We believe this will help our culture to reach international audiences when packaged properly,” the team said.
In-Person Auditions will take place on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 at 9:00 AM at the Fernando Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA). Regional/ International Artistes who are not in Trinidad and Tobago, are required to submit video auditions from January 20th at 8:00am to January 26th at 11:59pm.
“We aim to make this a production that captivates
audiences worldwide,” said Rome. “The Ultimate Soca Champion Competition will not only
elevate soca to international standards but also inspire the next generation of artistes.”
For registration, submission guidelines, and updates, visit ultimatesocachampion.com from Monday January 20th, or email ultimatesocachampion@gmail.com.
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Caribbean Buzz1 week ago$1 Million Up for Grabs In New Ultimate Soca Champions Competition.
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