Caribbean Buzz
Jamaica’s Shaggy Touches Down in T&T For Carnival 2023.
He says he’s ready to take in the energy of Carnival 2023. Fetes, the food, sights and sounds of carnival are all on Shaggy’s agenda. The artist will perform at Kes The Band’s IzWe concert event being held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy tonight.
Shaggy has collaborated with Kees on a single called ‘Mood’ and beyond that, the internationally acclaimed Jamaican superstar has a Hybrid Soca EP set for release later on. Collaborations with Bunji Garlin, Skinny Fabulous and Patrice Roberts will deliver a good vibe to music lovers worldwide, he has assured.
Speaking during an interview this morning on Boom94.1FM, Shaggy explained that his collab with Patrice, was initially meant to include dancehall artist, Spice, however the Jamaica singer was unavailable. It has been a while since Spice has been as visible as she’d been prior to her health scare prior to Christmas. Nevertheless, Shaggy and Patrice made good of their collab, according to the artist and he says he’s happy about how the song came out.
Beyond tonight’s event, Shaggy says he plans on getting some work done while he’s in Trinidad and will attend some of T&T’s Carnival fetes. “Definitely I wah go check out some ah these fetes. I wah fi be in ah di mix and have my finger on the pulse and see what di sauce is about,” he said with a laugh.
The “Boombastic” singer is well loved as a Caribbean artist, on the international circuit. This is not his first go at Soca. He delivered “Toro Toro” with Machel Montano back in 1998 and in 2015, he was also featured on Montano’s “Remedy.” He also collaborated with Barbados’ Alison Hinds on her single, “Can’t Let My Love Go.”
Caribbean Buzz
Terri Lyons Makes History with Fourth Consecutive Queen of Queens Title.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Queen Terri Lyons has once again cemented her place in Caribbean music history after winning the Queen of Queens Competition at Montserrat for the fourth consecutive year.
The highly anticipated event took place on Tuesday, December 30th, where Lyons delivered a commanding performance that set her apart from a strong regional field of competitors. Her victory further solidifies her reputation as one of the most dominant and consistent female voices in modern calypso.
Terri Lyons, the daughter of legendary Soca King Austin “Superblue” Lyons, has been making a tremendous impact on the calypso scene for years, earning respect for her lyrical strength, stage presence, and commitment to the art form. Many have noted that while she proudly carries her father’s legacy, she has firmly established her own powerful identity in the genre.
At Tuesday’s competition, Lyons topped the lineup, with Antigua and Barbuda’s Ge’eve Phillip securing second place, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Roslyn Reid-Hayes finishing in third.
Fans and fellow artistes have since taken to social media to praise Lyons’ continued excellence, with many calling her reign “unmatched” and “well deserved.” Her latest win not only highlights her individual talent but also underscores the strength of Caribbean calypso on a regional stage.
With four consecutive Queen of Queens titles now under her belt, Terri Lyons continues to raise the bar, proving that her crown is not just inherited, but undeniably earned.
Caribbean Buzz
Kerlz Goes Independent Ahead of T&T’s C2K26.
Trinidad and Tobago female soca artiste, Kerlz is going solo. The entertainer has announced her departure from the A Team Band, via media release. A 13-year-journey with the band’s front-line has been dubbed, ‘an amazing run’ by the entertainer who says she is grateful for the experience and the foundation built over the years.
Having recently unleashed a new single called, ‘Medicine’ on D’ Guitarman Riddim alongside fellow soca artistes, Ding Dong and Salty, Kerlz, whose real name is Kerlene Joseph, says she is excited to enter this new chapter. “I extend my deepest and most sincere thanks to the A Team Band for the incredible opportunity and the platform they provided me over the past 13 years,” she said, adding, “The journey has been formative and I will always cherish the music we created and the stages we shared together. I wish the entire A Team family nothing but the very best in all their future endeavours.”
Memories made and cherished, the singer now has her heart set on maximizing the potential of her recent release, which is already gaining ground as the 2026 season comes into focus. With a powerful voice and a dynamic stage presence, Kerlz says she is ready to captivate audiences as a solo performer.
