Ebuzz News
Archived: Luni Spark & Electrify- New Kings Of Grenada's Soca World!
Grenada’s people are proud of their authentic carnival culture and there’s no second guessing that by us here at ETCETERABUZZ.COM. On Friday night at the LIME sponsored, Soca Monarch event, we saw first hand, for yet another year, the effortless love the people of the Spice isle have for their own. On stage at the event, an authentic delivery of their individual vibe was felt as performance after performance, the artistes of Grenada showcased their individuality.
Shortpree walked away with the Groovy Crown with his rendition of “For The Sake”.
The Groovy Monarch’s 13 participants, inclusive of popular names like Shortpree, Ajamu and Scholar, came head to head with young stars in the making, Lil Vaughn and Sheldon Douglas among others, sending the massive crowd at the Grenada National Stadium wild with excitement throughout the early part of the night. Ten minutes on stage would see them all deliver well thought out skits and stage performances, but in the end it would be Shortpree who would take the Groovy crown. His single, ‘For The Sake’ was echoed as he belted out verse after verse, the crowd singing along and cheering wildly every step of the way. Shortpree entered the stage in a drunken stupor it would seem but he sobered up, eventually, via lyric and melody, explaining that he had drank alcohol and gotten intoxicated to pay taxes, for the sake of his country. You couldn’t beat the rhetoric.
Tallpree made a guest appearance on Friday night, giving the crowd a lot to cheer for.
Grenada’s golden boy, Tallpree was one of the featured guests during the intermission and with an announcement of LIME’s 4G network launch, the artiste made his presence felt, belting out a few of his hit singles, including, “Old Woman”- a song that had catapulted him to the mainstream soca circuit, a song that has pretty much the same gravitational force that it did years ago.
2014 Power Soca Monarch champs of Grenada, Luni Spark and Electrify.
The second half of the show – the Power Monarch was filled with excitement. From lighting effects to dancers, skits and even a makeshift house brought on stage, the artistes showed their enthusiasm for the competition, each undoubtedly hoping to walk away with the title. Reigning champ, Boyzie was no match for the likes of Squeeze Head who sang, “Turbo Charge” and winners, Luni Spark and Elecrify who sang, “No Mercy”, because even with his song, “Emergency”, the judges and the crowd agreed that he would have to settle for third place.
Grenada is bursting at the seams with authenticity. The love shown for country is enough to motivate its artistes and so with that, we look toward to the Road March to see just who the people will crowd, King of the road.
For more on Grenada and what lies on the island of spice, visit www.puregrenada.com.
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Destra Delivers Powerfully at Reflections.
“If this sharing that I’m doing touches anyone, I’m truly grateful. None of us are perfect. Some days you’ll feel good, some days you won’t, but it’s all part of the journey. Sometimes what you’re looking for is right on the horizon, and the moment you give up, you miss it. If my testimony makes anyone feel something, then my work here is done.” – DESTRA GARCIA
Trinidad and Tobago received a musical showcase of spiritual awakening yet again this past Saturday, at Destra’s ‘Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender.” The event took place at Queen’s Hall, St. Ann’s and proved to be a truly inspiring and uplifting musical experience.
From the onset, the show set a standard that fans of good music with powerful lyrics, would rave about for weeks. David Rudder – a cultural icon of Calypso music out of Trinidad and Tobago, welcomed the audience as he hit the stage first delivering the very fitting, ‘High Mas.’ It was a powerful blessing no doubt – something that would lead into a seamless spiritual production. He was subsequently joined on stage by Destra, something that created a full-circle moment that drew immediate emotion from the audience.
Known for her unmistakeable vocal ability, Destra took her audience on a carefully curated musical journey, opening her set with Free Again before transitioning into slowed-down, soul-stirring renditions of some of her most beloved songs, including Love Somebody and Fly and with each performance, she revealed a different layer of her artistry, offering vulnerability, reflection, and strength.
One of the night’s most touching highlights came as Garcia shared the stage with her daughter, Xaiya, for a heartfelt duet of The Prayer. Beginning at the piano, Xaiya gently set the tone before joining her mother in song, creating an intimate moment that resonated deeply with the audience.
The production, which was creatively directed by Zara Bartels and Isoke Edwards, also showcased the incredible talent of father and son pan duo Martin and De’jean Cain as well as the Maria Regina Grade School and St. Joseph’s Convent Port- of- Spain choirs, whose vibrant and polished performances brought a refreshing, youthful energy to the stage. Gospel artiste, Nisa joined Garcia for a powerful duet of Bridge Over Troubled Water. She also performed her original composition Make Me Over, adding another layer of spiritual depth to the evening.
As the show built toward its finale, Garcia delivered a commanding rendition of Ella Andall’s Bring Down the Power, followed by classic hymns including A Little More Oil in My Lamp. This climactic segment was elevated by the presence of traditional belle dancers and African drummers, creating a rich, cultural fusion that brought the audience to its feet. Beyond the performances, the overall production, brought to life through Bridgette Wilson’s choreography and Atiba Borde’s costuming, stood out for its seamless execution, immersive ambience, and thoughtful storytelling, reinforcing Reflections as more than just a concert, but a transformative experience.
Reflections certainly delivered a powerful blend of music, filled with deep messages and meaning. In what is a very spiritual season, Destra, through the delivery of ‘Reflections,’ has carved out a space for inspiration and connection within Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape – something that many would agree, is a necessity more than an option.