Caribbean Buzz
Jamaica Loves Soca. Here’s Nigel’s Jam Down Carnival Recap.
Soca music is definitely loved and appreciated by many people in Jamaica and the events of Jamaica Carnival this past weekend showed and proved this is true beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Thousands of Jamaican nationals joined tourists from across the region and outside of it and participated in numerous Carnival and Soca-themed events over the past two weekends in the land that’s renowned for reggae and dancehall music.
Kes The Band’s live concert hosted by SunNation at Sabina Park last Thursday and the first-ever “WI Fete” at the same venue last Saturday night attracted thousands of willing and eager participants, even as Trinidad staple events such as Private Ryan’s “Soca Brainwash”, Scorch’s “Duck Work” and Caesar’s Army’s “A.M. Bush” J’ouvert also drew massive crowds to different locations in and around the capital city of Kingston.
Creative Carnival decor, themes, customs, aesthetics and soundscapes prevailed throughout the festivities with sprinkes of dancehall and reggae for good measure, similar to the mix experienced during Trinidad Carnival. Soca superstar, Machel Montano made note of the evolution of the carnival music dynamic during his first performance with a full band on the island in many years, on Saturday night.
BUNJI GARLIN RECALLS BEING DISSED IN JA
Meanwhile, T&T Road March champion, Bunji Garlin also shared a story of a time when Soca artistes were not so readily accepted on the island. “The year is 2023,” he related after applauding the massive crowd for singing his hit song, “Differentology” word for word. “The last time I set foot inside here it was 2000. I didnt understand Jamaica dem times and ah come here with muh arrogant self and feel ah coulda do wha ah want. Delano from Rennaissance gimme de microphone and ah say gimme that dancehall riddim and ah woman in de crowd say ‘come offa dat, who is you’ and boo me straight off de stage. Ah fly back home to Trinidad that night and ah say ah never coming back to Jamaica again…”
Garlin freestyled the second half of the story in time with his hit song and the crowd’s response was tremendous. Performing with his live band, the ragga soca artiste showed masterful crowd control, stage presence and potent delivery, alongside his trademarked free-styling skills.
Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous also enjoyed their time on stage, as did three-time Soca Monarch, Aaron “Voice” St. Louis when he appeared during Montano’s closing set. Jeffrey “Agent Sasco” Campbell who sings on the new Caribbean Airlines theme song “Welcome Home,” and rising star, Raheem “Valiant” Bowes were among the few Jamaican, non-Soca performers on the night and both were greeted warmly by the audience, but the Soca stars were definitely the highlight and main attraction at Wi Fete.
T&T EVENT COORDINATOR TALKS CULTURAL INTEGRATION
Similarly, at Kes’ concert two days prior, recent collaborator, reggae and dancehall star, Busy Signal was welcomed and enjoyed by the masses assembled, but it was Iwer George’s 2020 collaboration, “Stage Gone Bad” that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Event Coordinator, Damian Archie has been producing events with Caesar’s Army and others at Jamaica Carnival for over a decade and says the cultural integration is still a work in progress. “The Jamaicans have their own way of doing things generally, but over the years, they have observed us and taken stock of how we do things and so now they’re more willing to collaborate and trust us more to handle certain aspects, and there are still things that can be improved on all sides, but the music is there – Soca is at a level now where we have two and three different generations of talent who are professionals and have hits and catalogue and varying degrees of stage experience, so there are about two generations who have grown up loving them and loving Soca music as much as they love any other genre.”
Archie admitted that Jamaica’s Carnival is not on the level of Trinidad and Tobago’s in terms of size, organization and logistics just yet. He noted that Jamaicas are a very expressive and confident people, adding that their parade of bands is on a different level all by itsel, at the same time.
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.
