Ebuzz News
TONIGHT!!! Viewz Kicks Off. Producer Encourages Artistes to Capitalize on Digital Marketing.
Trinidad and Tobago is never short on effective ways of enhancing the music product. This month, producer, Randal Alexander of PengCo Music Records, unveils a practical method of ensuring that music creators truly reach audiences online and via the platforms they frequent.
Alexander and his team have been on a mission to see artistes who walk through their door at PengCo Music, reap holistic rewards. “We’re kicking off something we call, ‘Viewz’ on Thursday, June 9th via the iENT digital platforms- Youtube, Facebook and Instagram,” he explained, noting that partners like entertainment platform, Ebuzztt.com, Promo Solutions, Guinness and Red Box Illustrations have come on board to ensure that the deliverables are met.
The streaming event will take place each Thursday from 8pm, for a three – month period, via the iENT social platforms, and will feature artistes like Frequency, King David, Lady Lava, Keturah Gamba, Orlando Octave and others who have received production services from PengCo Music. The weekly showcase will also highlight musical guests that have worked with PengCo Music over the past decade. “When the pandemic started, music became an elusive goal for many. In an attempt to stimulate the industry, I first dropped my production cost by 70%. In doing that, I began meeting so many talented artistes who were under the radar,” said Alexander. After delivering approximately 300 new singles to these new artistes, Randal said he made a necessary observation. “I noticed that most artistes were really struggling to get their names out there. The reasons differed, but the most common reasons were a lack of knowledge and a lack of means,” he explained.
Alexander began teaching these artistes, equipping them with valuable knowledge and insight that they may never had known before. “I tried to offer them all information and tools that would transform their careers. A small group of these artistes were very diligent. They applied themselves, worked hard and persisted and because of that, Viewz was created.”
Viewz will be used as a platform to generate much desired traffic to the content delivered by these very talented entertainers, according to Alexander. The campaign’s goal is to generate 400,000 viewers per month to the weekly showcase. By the end of the showcase, the goal of promoting these artistes and their music, will be realized.
In April, PengCo Music unleashed a riddim called, Riddim Up, which brought some of the artistes that will be featured on Viewz, to the forefront. Their songs and many other singles by these underground artistes, will be showcased to the world, beginning on June 9th.
For more details on this initiative, follow @pengcompany today.
Ebuzz News
Patrice Roberts Pulls 10K Plus Crowd At Flava Village in Port-of-Spain.
The national Carnival Commission says more than 10,000 patrons came out to Flava Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Thursday night to see female Soca artiste, Patrice Roberts.
An event dubbed, ‘Always Us,’ held as a free showcase for Carnival lovers, delivered a number of truly entertaining soca stars, among them, Shal Marshall, Shurwayne Winchester, Nadia Batson, Farmer Nappy and Mical Teja. The NCC, in a media statement said, “an estimated 8,000 people filled the popular Carnival venue, with an additional 2,000patrons enjoying the show from viewing screens along The Drag, creating an electric Carnival atmosphere despite heavy rainfall earlier in the day.”
With her usual high energy performances, Patrice held the attention of fans throughout the night.The concert was described by the artiste as a heartfelt “thank you” to her fans and
supporters. NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Keiba Jacob-Mottley, said the organisation welcomed the opportunity to partner with Roberts. “We commend Patrice for her decision to give back in this meaningful way and applaud her commitment to ensuring that high-quality local entertainment remains accessible to everyone during the Carnival season, Mottley said, adding, “Our collaboration reinforces the NCC’s focus on creating memorable Carnival experiences that celebrate our artistes while removing financial barriers for the public,” she added.
The NCC CEO noted that the Flava Food Village, one of two signature Carnival villages at the
Savannah, alongside the John Cupid Carnival Village, is offered as a vibrant, inclusive space
where patrons can enjoy food, culture, and nightly performances free of charge. She added
that other NCC events, such as “Welcome to the Gayelle” represent the continuing work at
delivering a successful Carnival 2026.
David Baptiste, President of the Carnival Entrepreneurs Association, described the night as a milestone for vendors at the Savannah. “Last night was truly beautiful and something I have never seen before – an event of this magnitude in terms of crowd size, and people supporting the vendors. Many vendors sold out last night. We need more of this, and I am looking forward to the next event. Events like these boost business for our vendors at the Savannah and make them truly feel like they are a part of the Carnival festival,” Baptiste said.
Ebuzz News
Squeezy Rankin’s Pivot. Artiste Goes Hard into Calypso to Change Mindsets.
From dancehall music with rough lyrical content to social commentary that aims at changing mindsets, East Trinidad native, Squeezy Rankin says he has found his true calling in Calypso music. The entertainer is on the road to the preliminary round of the Calypso Monarch Competition later this month, with a single called ‘Rat Race’ – this, one year after ‘Justice’ influenced younger audiences to take a stronger look at the Calypso genre, something that he hopes he can continue to do as his journey in music continues.
In a recent radio interview, the reigning Young King, whose real name is Anthony La Fleur, said prior to 2025, he had not done music professionally in 13 years. Jumping back into the spotlight, he said, was a bit intimidating, but the exposure last year has prepared him for 2026 and the artiste is expected to confidently claim his space in the Calypso Monarch competition this year.
As real as it gets, Squeezy Rankin- a man on the ground, has always fought for his place in the music industry locally. Now, as Calypso music embraces him even more, he says he believes he’s found his place. “I plan on releasing two songs during the year because I want to change the narrative that Calypso music is old people music,” he said, adding that his hope is that urban radio stations see the value in sharing topics of social commentary, such as ‘Justice’ and ‘Rat Race’- songs deep in meaning and valuable beyond measure, in the greater scheme of things.
Determined to change mindsets one song at a time, Squeezy Rankin says his strong suit is certainly social commentary and he will not, at any time, delve into political commentary. “I was advised by someone who is deep in politics to stay out of it and I literally listened. You know sometimes we hear people, but we aren’t listening. I thought about what he said, and it made sense. I literally listened, even though they say I don’t listen,” he said with a laugh.
‘Rat Race’ was written by Squeezy and Angelo Pantin with production by Q-Ban Production.
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