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Archived: T&T On a World-Wind Publicity Tour As Foreign Media Get The Soca Scoop & More

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From Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons’ trip to Austin, Texas where they’ve performed at the SXSW Music Festival to news on TMZ on the experience of a couple NFL football players’ carnival first time, Trinidad and Tobago is making headway into mainstream news overseas. This past week, Rollingstone magazine online captured the essence of Bunji and Fay Ann’s delivery of soca music at the South By South West Music Festival.

ROLLING STONE

[box color=”gray” icon=”star”]”Carnival — the pre-Lenten blowout held around the world — came to an end nearly two weeks ago, but crossover star Bunji Garlin used his two SXSW appearances to bring the music and energy of Trinidad up to Austin, twice leading fans old and new through a shout-alongs of his triumphant 2013 hit “Differentology.” “I’m honored to be one of the first two Soca artists to perform at this festival,” he told the crowd at Rice and Peas’ Wednesday day party. The other? His wife, Fay-Ann Lyons, who followed Bunji’s performance with a few songs of her own, whipping the small crowd into such a frenzy that the speakers began to wobble and the stability of the Empire Auto back patio seemed in question.”[/box]

For years, the efforts of artistes like Machel Montano and countless others who’ve been flying the T&T flag in destinations across the globe, seemed futile, in some instances with only a little headway being made but now, the hard work of every artiste out of T&T, music producers and even DJ’s, particularly those who push the music hard in these territories, is paying off. People are becoming curious and the world is zooming in. Bunji Garlin, expressing his feelings some time ago via Instagram, begged his fans to avoid saying that this was all because of his efforts and his music, instead reminding them that many who had gone before him, had paved the way for what was happening. Indeed, he was right. Calypsonians like the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, David Rudder and countless others fought the hard fight for Trinidad and Tobago’s culture to be exposed to the world and while it didn’t happen immediately, they too are now living to see the offspring of Calypso make its mark on the universe.

Host, promoter, Band leader and more… Giselle The Wassi One is calling for the influencers to be mindful of carnival’s evolution.

On the issue of carnival- the main stage for Soca music, ETCETERABUZZ.COM in a recent chat with Gisselle The Wassi One Blanche, noted the passion felt by this true carnival ambassador for the little things that make T&T’s carnival the “Greatest Show On Earth.” She lamented that the influencers of the festival need to be careful of the direction in which they are taking the festival, for fear of losing the authenticity of T&T’s carnival. She said she feared that very soon public fetes or grassroots fetes like Fire Fete, WASA and even Army Fete, would be no more- this as replicas of foreign styled parties continue to pop up on the festival calendar.

One may say this is all a part of the evolution of the festival but according to Wassi, segregation is felt when this is done and this she says, is a dangerous and unfair trend that does not depict the true essence of carnival. The Miami native who is the daughter of Trinidadian parents also called on the artistes to be mindful of the local industry, saying that pricing or overpricing is hurting the grassroots events. She said artistes need to remember that this is the said audience who essentially made most of them who they are today.  

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Denise Belfon Thanks Drake’s ‘OVO’ Team for Inclusion of Her ‘Work’ on New Track.

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Canadian rapper, Drake is once again teaming up with Caribbean entertainers, delivering a brand new album called, ‘Maid of Honor,’ which is now available on all streaming platforms. It was one of three albums the artiste simultaneously dropped on May 15th – the other two being ICEMAN and HABIBTI.

Rapper, Drake has released three new albums simultaneously.

One of the singles on ‘Maid of Honor,’ called ‘BBW’ features the work of Trinidad and Tobago entertainer, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon – her 1998 track, ‘Work.’

The lyrics, ‘Put Yuh Back in It’ became a trending expression on TikTok in 2020 when it became a challenge on the popular platform. That viral opportunity six years ago, led to the song’s resurgence and Belfon’s name being called by younger generations whose parents, aunts and uncles would’ve more than likely grown up on her music and performances in the Caribbean. Fast forward to 2026, and Belfon is once again enjoying a viral moment as news broke that her song had been sampled by Drake. “Everything is legitimate and I want to thank the team – Fabian Alfonso, a copyright specialist out of Trinidad and Tobago ; He was very instrumental in making this deal become reality, said Belfon in a chat with Ebuzztt, before expressing gratitude to several other instrumental people, and Drake’s OVO team.

In 2022, dancehall artiste, Shenseea and rapper, Megan Thee Stallion also sampled ‘Work’ on the single, ‘Lick.’ Belfon, who lives in New York, had, at that time, attended a release party at a nightclub in New York, where Shenseea acknowledged the Soca artiste’s influence on the new release.

The Maid of Honor album delivers 14 singles and added to T&T’s Denise Belfon, Jamaican artiste, Popcaan is also featured on a single called, ‘Amazing Shape.’

Denise Belfon’s personality and charisma has, for a very long time, made her a fan favorite in the Caribbean. A vocal powerhouse and unique stage performer, she has stood the test of time in the Soca music industry, having created massive soca anthems like ‘Work,’ ‘Wine and Bend Over’ and ‘Wining Queen’ among countless other flavorful singles.

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Caribbean Fashion Is A Big Deal. Designer, Ecliff Elie Expands With Women In Mind.

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Caribbean fashion is top tier. In a world of copy and paste designs, Caribbean brands like the incomparable Ecliff Elie, stand in a class of their own. Earlier this month, the menswear brand made a major announcement and whether you’ve heard or not, we’re here to tell you, this is huge.

The Ecliff Elie brand will now be delivering its seamless, tailored appeal to women. The brand is known for its precision tailoring and disciplined garment construction so with that at its foundation, women can now feel the complete effect of the Ecliff Elie touch. The company steps out into this aspect of its business after what it says has been years of delivering this service privately to women. Dubbed ‘Bespoke — Tailored for Women,’ Ecliff Elie is now offering the service, at scale.

The introduction reflects a focused extension of Elie’s established approach to tailoring – one built on proportion, control, and consistency. Each garment is developed through a guided process that considers posture, movement, and presence, ensuring that the final result aligns with how the individual operates and presents herself.

From custom blazers to trousers, skirts, and dresses, customers will now be able to get their custom designed Ecliff Elie apparel, through a consultation-led process where every decision—from cut to finish—is deliberate. The company says fabric selection will be approached with the same level of discipline, with materials chosen for structure, performance, and longevity, allowing each piece to maintain its standard over time.

“This is not a new direction,” Elie states. “It is a continuation of work I have done over time, now introduced with structure and clarity.”

With more than three decades of experience, Ecliff Elie has consistently positioned presentation as a defining factor in how individuals are perceived. His work has guided clients across industries to approach style as a matter of precision and intent rather than preference.

“When the garment is correct, everything changes,” he adds. “You move differently. You carry yourself differently. That is the standard.”

As more women continue to operate at the highest levels across business, leadership, and professional environments, the demand for tailoring that reflects both authority and individuality has grown. This offering responds to that shift with a process designed to deliver consistency, clarity, and control.

Through Bespoke — Tailored for Women, Ecliff Elie continues to refine his approach while maintaining a clear focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a disciplined standard of execution.

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