Trinidad and Tobago’s Shurwayne Winchester has been chosen by major Canadian media corporation Rogers, as the soca artiste to open the Rogers Mosaic Virtual Carnival 2020 and even though it’s an in house event, the exposure of Winchester’s music and that of Soca as a genre to some 26,000 people, is something to be celebrated.
The soca heavyweight who, over the years, has copped several Road March, Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca monarch titles, will open the virtual carnival. In a media statement issued by Et-cet-era The Company, it was explained that Shurwayne was interviewed last week Thursday, virtually, on Toronto’s number one morning show- Breakfast Television on City TV.
On July 27th, the Roger’s Mosaic Virtual Carnival 2020 will expose the soca genre to employees at Rogers’ 53 plus media radio stations in Canada. The company is Canada’s leading technology and media company. According to the media release, Rogers is bent on showing its commitment to the diversity and inclusion of all employees and is also committed to keeping the company’s culture alive during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was revealed that Shurwayne’s name was pinned for opening the festival, many vouching for his powerful execution of the Soca genre and his ability to please diverse audiences.
“This is a great look for the Soca genre because with all that’s going on in the world, there’s been very little opportunity for artistes and other persons affiliated with the music, to take it out there,” said a Rogers Mosaic Committee member. Kiss 92.5 FM, Canada’s #1 Top 40 radio station is looking to diversify its rotation and Shurwayne’s music and that of other Soca artistes will be added to its rotation.
On the day of the virtual festival, Shurwayne will be interviewed on the Canadian frequency. “This will essentially be the first time that a Soca artiste gets the opportunity to be interviewed on this station,” said the Rogers committee member.
Even as artistes and other members of the entertainment fraternity in Trinidad and Tobago struggle to come to terms with the restrictions maintained by Trinidad and Tobago’s government and health officials amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Shurwayne is in studio. He says he knows the challenges will eventually subside. “In mid-August, Shurwayne’s set to release a new kind of style- a yardie link up, we’re calling it,” said SWLTD’s music director. The team is confident that Shurwayne has all that it takes to represent the genre perfectly to the Canadian demographic. “It’s always important for people to understand the traditions, the culture, the history of the sound they’re hearing for the first time. Shurwayne’s very capable of this,” he said