Booster Shot: Synergy Soca Star 5 Starts this week!

The first TV show to put young performers on the fast track to soca stardom is back! They brought you names like Fireball, Umi Marcano, O.G., Blue and Chiney. Synergy TV's Soca Star is about to launch its fifth season on Wednesday, November 11th. It airs at 9pm in Trinidad and Tobago.  The host with the most, Super Jigga TC will be sure to keep you entertained all season long.

Then next Saturday (November 14), the 15 new finalists will give their first public performance at the St. James Amphitheatre. Admission is free, so if you're down there go and check it out.

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Booster Shot: Mavado releases his first soca collaboration

So this past weekend in St.Lucia, Courtney aka "Curty" Louis and co-producer Francis "Leebo" released their much anticipated "Boom Boom" riddim for Carnival 2kwine! 

Nurse Karen in St. Lucia with co-producer, Leebo

Perhaps much of the aniticpation was the result of this: one of dancehall's brightest young stars made his soca debut on it! Jamaica's self-described "Gangsta for Life", lends his voice to the caribbean's happiest genre, soca! I'll be the first to tell you, on the track "My Life", Mavado sounds just like his signature style...bringing a dancehall flavour to a riddim that is otherwise authentic groovy soca.

"After creating the riddim, I wrote lyrics for the song, "My Life,"...with Mavado in mind offcourse. I then sent the riddim and lyrics to Mavado and his team by email, who then sent me the vocals for his part of the song. Right after I contacted Baby Blue and he and I worked on his parts, and the rest is history..",

Three songs premeried on MC Scady's program on Radio Caribbean on Saturday afternoon.


- Whole Day (Wuk) - Qpid (St. Lucia)
- Boom Boom Boom - Tabia (St. Vincent)
- My Life - Baby Blue (St. Lucia) and Mavado (Jamaica)

My Life - Baby Blue & Mavado

Nurse Karen with artiste, Qpid

A few more titles entered St. Lucian circulation on Tuesday of this week:

- Hot Gal List - Boone Chatta (Germany), one half of the internationally acclaimed Soca Twins sound crew.
- Who are You - Zionomi (St. Lucia) ft. Bobby Bling (Jamaica)

In Toronto with Soca Twins (Boone is the cutie on the left)

I always try to give a little shine to the producers. So it's time to big up the puppetmaster behind this peculiar assembly of talent - the one Courtney Louis. He's a St. Lucian who is well known and respected in Trinidad's music community, especially since he helped to slap together the track that would earn Machel Montano a roadmarch win for Jumbie. In 2007, he shared the accolaides for Soca of the Year and Song of the Year. However, it was the Song Writer of the Year Award that really turned heads.

In fact, the Boom Boom riddim was so named after the title track, which was written by Louis and performed by Tabia. Songwriting is definitely his strong suit, having either written or co-written all of the tunes on the riddim.

In St. Vincent with artiste, Tabia

Curty says he's got a lot more surprises this carnival: " The season hasn’t even started yet. We have at least two other riddims working on that will include power and groovy vibes. I have plans to work with a number of Saint Lucian and regional artistes. A few to mention are, Mr Killa ( Grenada ), KMC ( Trinidad ), Beenie Man ( Jamaica ), and Marie Anne ( St. Lucia )."

That's all folks!

Love and soca,

(Nurse) Karen

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On de Scene: Tabia on de "Boom Boom" Riddim

Last Weekend, I caught up with Vincy artist Tabia inside the Club as she came into St.Lucia to record another of her 2009 Carnival tracks with two of St. Lucia's finest producers. Many may recall Tabia last year with her notable track "Feeling It" featuring Luta from the Lime Vincy Soca Dans (which she is also part of).

Tabia and I, back in February inside International Soca Monarch 2009

Tabia's single entilted "Boom Boom Boom" is produced by power team Courtney “Curty” Lewis and Francis “Leebo” De Lima on their "Boom Boom" riddim set to release in Mid April.

Tabia and Curty before hitting the Studio.

As she states, " My involvement in St Lucia, doesn't stop here as I am planning on making a return for the carnival; so keep posted to know when I'll be touching the stage in St. Lucia."

Photo Up of Courtney "Curty" Lewis and Francis "Leebo" De Lima

This riddim will feature a host of local and regional artists such as Q-pid with her track entitled "Whole Day Wuk" . Newcomer to the St.Lucia Soca arena Baby Blue will voice the riddim with an explosive duo featuring Jamacian artist Mavado. Yes, Mavado!

Now that's enough , keep ya ears open on who else rides de "Boom Boom" riddim and the others set to release!

Peace & Soca,
Rochelle

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