Caribbean Buzz
Heightened Anticipation for Next Weekend’s One Love -The Experience.
Caribbean Love Promotions Limited, hosts of reggae concert, One Love The Experience is ready to deliver a concert of epic proportions this month. The team behind the massive undertaking is not new to event promotion. They have successfully executed a number of parties and community events over the years and on April 13th, all of Trinidad and Tobago will get the opportunity to experience what they assure will be a concert like no other.
As the team prepares to deliver some of reggae music’s most mesmerizing artistes from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, organizers assure that T&T’s reggae artistes, Isasha, King David, Mr. King, Black Loyalty and Jamelody, will receive the recognition deserved. With gates opening at 7pm they are urging patrons to show their support and patriotism by coming out early and experiencing the show from beginning to end.
Mario Robertson is one of the organizers of ‘One Love- The Experience.’ Together with the rest of his dedicated promotional team, he has thoughtfully assembled Glen Washington, Bushman, Louie Culture and Warrior King with the understanding that these artistes have not been seen by the people of T&T, for quite some time. The artistes, with the exception of Jamaica’s Glen Washington and Warrior King, will all be backed by T&T’s Kornerstone band. “It’s really important for us to give credit to our homegrown artistes and the musicians of Kornerstone because if we’re honest with ourselves, they are just as deserving of the fanfare, as any international artiste is,” said Robertson. He went on to explain that this concert will offer T&T’s acts a true opportunity to showcase their individual music catalogues as they share the stage with their counterparts from Jamaica.
One Love – The Experience.
On the premise of the concert and its importance at this time, Robertson said, “Our communities are reeling from loss. There is so much pain and trauma in our society. We need music that can heal, promote love, soothe and calm the spirit.” He explained that this was primarily the reason these particular artistes were chosen to build the One Love cast and explained that Caribbean Love Promotions Limited’s goal is to create a movement in T&T, through music, that will ultimately spread the message of peace, love, unity and brotherhood.
Security at the venue, a key point of assurance, Robertson and his team are hard at work, putting things in place. “We definitely understand and agree that the safety and comfort of all patrons is tremendously important. This area is one of the top priorities for us, on the night,” he said, revealing that security officers will be diligently working both inside and outside of the venue.
Excited to return to T&T and hit the stage on April 13th, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the ever-conscious, Bushman has expressed his sincere gratitude to the people of T&T for always embracing him with open arms. This year, the 20th anniversary of his timeless hit single, ‘Down Town,’ the artiste anticipates performing the track at ‘One Love The Experience’ while at the same time, unleashing a brand new single called, ‘Whyne Dung.’ He says the new song is a fresh and vibrant addition to his musical repertoire. “I look forward to a night of unity, rhythm and positive vibes as I prepare to deliver a performance that truly reflects the resilience and spirit of reggae music.”
“This concert will invoke that nostalgia that comes along with memories,” said Robertson. He noted that many people would have grown up hearing the music of these artistes, reiterating, “It’s really an honor to bring them back to the big stage in T&T this year.”
For more on ‘One Love The Experience,’ fans of reggae music can visit Instagram.
Caribbean Buzz
Guyana’s Road March Queen, Omaiah Hall Is Ready to Take On T&T.
Guyana has Soca too.
The country’s reigning Road March Queen, 24-year-old Omaiah Hall says every Guyanese Soca artiste will admit, they have to love it, to remain true to it. The young, talented vocalist who also placed third in the Senior Soca Monarch competition last year, is in Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Carnival 2026 where she plans on making the right connections while having a bit of fun along the way.
Hall never imagined she’d fall this deeply in love with Soca music. In fact, she admits that throughout her life, her passion lied in singing RnB music. “I was never a person who sang Calypso or Soca music. My father is a pianist and jazz musician. I just never found an appeal for being on stage and wining up,” she said reflectively. In 2023 however, her outlook quickly changed.
In 2020 she had won the Junior Calypso Monarch competition in what’s called, ‘Mashramani’ in Guyana – a festival that takes place on Republic Day, February 23rd, annually. Omaiah said a couple years later, she began dabbling in Soca music and by 2023, the sound, rhythm and energy of the music had totally absorbed her. “In 2022, I realized I only wanted to do Soca music. Soca found me!” she said, explaining that by 2023 a song called, ‘We Fetting,’ followed by ‘R’ in 2024, had gotten the attention of the people of Guyana. “I was booked and busy and one year later in 2025, I won the Road March title, with ‘Breakway’ – dethroning Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, who had been the Road March Queen for a decade.” Now, as she continues her effort to build catalogue, reputation and fanbase, Omaiah has released a 2026 track called, “Happy Feeling,’ which has been receiving tremendous love in Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, a second single, “Foreva,’ which comes complete with a new video, is her 2026 Guyana Carnival Road March contender.
Explaining that Guyana’s actual Carnival takes place in May annually, Omaiah says both festivals should be experienced by anyone desirous of a great time among carefree people. “Guyana is becoming more open to Soca now because of the younger generation’s involvement in the genre,” she admitted, noting that dancehall takes precedence, and as such, Mashramani organizers have included a Dancehall Monarch over the past three years. “Guyana is all dancehall. Many say Soca music is too happy of a genre,” she highlighted, adding that artistes like O.K.C, Pahjo and Vinel Hinds have consistently stood firm in representing the genre and popularizing it in Guyana.
TALKING CARIBBEAN COLLABS
Eager to take her vibe and energy to venues across Trinidad and Tobago and certainly the world, Omaiah is hopeful for the opportunity to collaborate with other Caribbean artistes. She performed at Nailah Blackman’s concert in January. “I’ve also done A-Team Fridays, Vice Nightclub and the Eye Slam concert series,” she highlighted, explaining that her aim is to make the necessary connections along the way. “When it comes to my music, and my performance style, I’ll say, Omaiah Hall will always bring vocals. Added to that, I’m a strong performer. I will wine up!” she said cheerfully. In fact, those very traits may have been responsible for her walking away with the 2025 title of Female Soca Artiste of the Year, in Guyana.
A huge fan of Machel Montano, and extremely encouraged by the powerful personality and stage presence of T&T’s Fay Ann Lyons, Omaiah is pushing full speed ahead, truly encouraged. “I love Fay Ann. I have been compared to her many times. She is powerful- the way she commands the stage, the way she is unapologetic about who she is,” said the young artiste. She also gives tremendous credit to the late, Dexter ‘Blaxx’ Stewart, noting that he opened doors for many young, upcoming artistes. “I haven’t been able to make that solid, professional connection with Machel just yet but I am optimistic. I’ve met him before in Guyana at the CPL and at our Super Concert backstage, but I’m hopeful for greater opportunities to work with him, in the future,” she said.
Now in T&T for the season of revelry, Omaiah says 2026 will see her hit the streets in costume, and certainly enjoying every aspect of the festival. “I was here in 2025 but after winning the Road March in Guyana, being in Trinidad was more like a time for rest last year.”
Her Road March win was a big deal, she says, noting that unlike the Monarch, the Road March is completely chosen by the people. “The title holds weight because the people want to hear the song and that was the moment when I said, it wasn’t for the judges, or me, it was for the people. The people loved it!”
Patient, yet tremendously encouraged, Omaiah Hall is steadily pursuing her career in Soca. “I’m yet to travel internationally but I will soon. My music travels more than I have and that’s actually creating room for me to travel because I have a few places to go this year,” she said.
For more on Guyana’s Omaiah Hall, follow her on Instagram @omaiahhallofficial and Facebook @iamomaiahhall.
Caribbean Buzz
Grammy Nominee, Lila Ike to Perform in Opening Number At 2026 Grammy Awards.
Jamaican singer-songwriter Lila Iké, a first-time GRAMMY® nominee for Best Reggae Album, will kick off Music’s Biggest Day to perform in the opening number of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards® Premiere Ceremony on Sunday, February 1, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Iké will join fellow nominees Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty in the opening ensemble performance. The ceremony will stream live at 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and live.GRAMMY.com.
Iké is nominated for Best Reggae Album for her debut LP, Treasure Self Love (Wurl Iké Records / In.Digg.Nation Collective / Ineffable Records). She is the only woman nominated in the category, alongside an all-Jamaican slate including Vybz Kartel, Jesse Royal, Mortimer, andKeznamdi.
Executive produced by Protoje, Treasure Self Love blends reggae, soul, R&B, and dancehall while exploring themes of love, healing, and self-acceptance. The album features H.E.R. and Joey Bada$$, with “He Loves Us Both” (ft. H.E.R.) named one of The New York Times’ Best Songs of 2024.
The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY platform recently shared Lila’s journey to this Grammy nomination. Watch below. In addition to her GRAMMY recognition, Iké has appeared on COLORSxStudios, NPR Tiny Desk, Apple Music, ABC News Live and was recently announced as a 2026 MOBO Awards nominee for Best Caribbean Act—her third nomination in the category.
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