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Machel Won for Soca Succinctly in 2025. The World Should Know How.

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In 2025, one of the Caribbean’s most iconic superstars, Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Montano broke through the glass ceiling internationally, appearing on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series. It was the first for Soca music. The YouTube platform boasts a massive audience in excess of 12 million subscribers. Machel and the Monk Band’s appearance has racked up 1.3million views since it was dropped online back on January 13th, 2025.

Machel Montano continues his reign as the King of Soca music, but more than that, the artiste’s catalogue and influence, spanning more than 30 years, continues to point the world in one direction – the Mecca- Trinidad and Tobago’s Greatest Show on Earth.

Despite quite a lot of International and regional developments, new Soca music is being released by artistes in high anticipation of another epic Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago. Machel’s latest release is a collaboration with St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s Skinny Fabulous and Grenada’s Lil Natty and Thunda, called, “Pull De Pin.” In 5 days, 506,000 people have checked out the release on YouTube, proving the magnetic pull of this trio.

One of the year’s highlghts for Soca music and the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was in fact Machel’s appearance on the NPR Music Tiny Desk series. It has been hailed as one of the best Tiny Desk performances of 2025, by Welcome to The Culture.

In an interview with Mauricio Ruiz – Host of the Manager’s Playbook, Machel shared that initially, he did have reservations about doing the show. “I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t think I was ready,” he said on the Podcast. His manager, Che Kothari was persistent though, and eventually, Machel Montano and the Monk band was booked for the acoustic style performance on January 13th, 2025. During that showcase, Machel’s Power Soca music was stripped down. “I know he is a genius, a curator ; All you have to do is put those two entities together and it would be magic and it would have such a ripple effect in this region,” said Che during the Manager’s Playbook interview, and that it did.

That episode of the NPR Tiny Desk series has been acclaimed by Caribbean music lovers, some admitting that it had even brought tears to their eyes. “This is my first time being exposed to this artiste and I’m not too familiar with Soca, but he’s a vibe! I will be checking out more of his music,” said one viewer. Another commenter who said he is Bangladeshi-Australian said, “no other music fills me up with joy the way this music does. I hope that there’s casual Tiny Desk viewers from around the world who decide to watch this video and find their next musical love.”

Machel Montano’s groundbreaking performance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series was one of this year’s biggest wins for Soca music. The insistence of his manager, Che Kothari was undoubtedly a major factor in what the world got the opportunity to experience in January. Machel said it was an authentic, real experience, and it meant something big not just for him, but for the people doing it – the musicians who were there, side by side with him.

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Music News

General Grant and Mr Renzo Unite Caribbean Rhythms on “De Shot Call (Remix)”

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The vibrant sounds of classic dancehall and contemporary reggaeton collide on “De Shot Call (Remix),” a dynamic new collaboration from Trinidad and Tobago recording artist General Grant and versatile entertainer Mr. Renzo.

.Designed to ignite dancefloors while honoring the rich musical heritage of the Caribbean, the track blends the raw, energetic spirit of early 1990s dancehall with the infectious grooves and global appeal of modern reggaeton. The result is a high-energy anthem that bridges generations, cultures, and musical styles.

Inspired by the golden era of dancehall that helped shape Caribbean music culture, “De Shot Call (Remix)” reimagines that signature sound through a contemporary lens. The production delivers nostalgic undertones while embracing the polished rhythms and vibrant energy that resonate with today’s audiences.

For General Grant, the project continues his commitment to preserving and evolving authentic Caribbean music. Widely respected for his contributions to the dancehall and reggae landscape, he brings his signature delivery and commanding presence to the remix, reinforcing the song’s connection to the genre’s roots.

Joining him is Mr. Renzo, a singer, songwriter, and entertainer whose career spans more than two decades. Recognized for his ability to blend Caribbean, Latin, pop, and urban influences, Mr Renzo adds a fresh and modern dimension to the track, helping to create a sound that transcends borders and appeals to a broad international audience.

Together, the two artists showcase how Caribbean music continues to evolve while remaining grounded in its traditions. “De Shot Call (Remix)” serves as a celebration of that journey, highlighting the seamless transition from dancehall’s formative years to Reggaeton’s current global prominence.

The single was executive produced by Lawrence Adams – Mr. Renzo, who also co-wrote the track alongside Curtis Grant – General Grant. Recording and editing duties were handled by Stephon Gabriel, while engineer Ovy Thouni delivered the song’s polished mix and master.

With its infectious rhythm, energetic performances, and cross-generational appeal, “De Shot Call (Remix)” is positioned to become a favourite among fans of Caribbean music and lovers of dancefloor-ready hits alike.

Whether you’re a longtime dancehall enthusiast or a fan of today’s reggaeton movement, this collaboration offers the perfect soundtrack to turn up the volume and celebrate the enduring influence of Caribbean music.

“De Shot Call (Remix)” is now available for audiences ready to experience the fusion of old-school dancehall energy and modern reggaeton flavor.

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T&T Visual Artist AndyVenture Readies for First Solo Exhibition at the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago.

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The Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago will host the inaugural solo exhibition of Trinidad-based visual artist and musician AndyVenture, known professionally as VENCHA. OVER YA HEAD opens on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 and runs through July 4, 2026. Admission is free and the public is invited to experience a body of work that deliberately resists easy interpretation — placing the viewer in direct contact with ideas that exceed ordinary perception.

OVER YA HEAD is a multidisciplinary exhibition spanning painting and visual narrative. The works explore perception, ascension, limitation and expanded states of human experience, presenting images that challenge fixed ways of seeing reality and imagine possibilities beyond ordinary existence.

Drawing from Einstein’s theory of relativity and mathematical concepts of higher-dimensional space, AndyVenture treats the exhibition as an invitation to encounter ideas that operate at the outer limits of human comprehension. The title itself is both provocation and promise – the work is not designed to be immediately understood, but to be genuinely felt.

Central to the exhibition is an evolving visual mythology: recurring figures known as Ahomi and Dem appear across paintings as anchors of a larger conceptual world that AndyVenture has been steadily constructing across his practice.“I want the audience to encounter something that sits outside of familiar understanding. There isn’t an expectation of immediate understanding. The experience is about confronting something that operates beyond what is easily grasped,” said Ventura.

A Little About The Artist.

AndyVenture (VENCHA), born Andre Allong, is a Trinidad-based visual artist and musician whose practice spans painting, music and multimedia expression. His work draws on graffiti art, hip hop and rapso lyricism, comic book art, science fiction and contemporary culture to create vibrant, conceptually layered works that move between the personal and the cosmic.

Visually, his work reflects the influence of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby, whose expansive sense of scale and form shaped how AndyVenture approaches composition and impact, alongside local luminaries Leroy Clarke and Carlisle Chang, whose practices carry a strong sense of vision and cultural identity. He further developed his artistic foundation through the Visual Arts Certificate Programme at The University of the West Indies.

Conceptually, the work is rooted in a rejection of cycles of conflict and suffering that are routinely accepted as fixed features of human existence. In their place, AndyVenture imagines the possibility of an evolved human consciousness – one oriented towards perception, potential and transformation. One of the conceptual anchors running through his practice is the interplay between the words axis and access – a linguistic shift that reframes mathematical structure as a metaphor for perception itself and how different ways of seeing might open entirely different experiences of reality.

“I’m interested in the possibility that human perception and behaviour can evolve beyond those patterns. The work comes from a rejection of the cycles of conflict and suffering that are often accepted as part of human existence.” AndyVenture (VENCHA)

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