Soca is LIFE and so, in Trinidad and Tobago, amid much shuffling and skepticism over whether a virtual carnival experience should happen, and whether it could even work, there is a powerful hum that billows from the depths of the hearts of true die hard soca fans, appreciative no doubt, of the artistes who, like clockwork, are brining the tunes.

The music is here and while there will be no carnival festival in the usual sense, artistes like Jaiga, Shal Marshall, Bunji Garlin, Nadia Batson, Blaxx, Machel Montano, Farmer Nappy, Lyrikal, MX Prime and others remain committed to the art form.

One of our favourites so far comes from the man who has defended soca music for as long as we can remember. Jaiga’s ‘On De Inside’ is the ultimate limer’s anthem and with no liming permitted in large numbers, this tune on the ‘Backyard Jam’ riddim, is in essence, the epitome of what the real carnival spirit encompasses.

We spoke with Jaiga briefly in the aftermath of confirmation given by Trinidad and Tobago’s National Carnival Commission Chairman, Winston Gypsy Peters that the NCC would not be facilitating any virtual events and is in fact looking toward 2022 for the delivery of its usual carnival festival. Jaiga admitted to being bothered by the chairman’s lacklustre expression but went on to explain that no matter what, the people of T&T will enjoy the music by the artistes and even with that, the artists’ greatest purpose will, in essence, be fulfilled.

CHECK OUT THE NEW SINGLE BELOW: