ALL HAIL THE ViKing and ViQueen!
The first family of soca talked mutual support, new music and future ventures with WEEKEND BUZZ less than an hour before ripping up the stage at Socatology, recently held at Kensington Oval.
Still riding high off the EDM-fuelled Differentology, Bunji Garlin (real name Ian Alvarez) said he was taking advantage of the song’s success to promote the soca genre.
“V103 out of Atlanta had a kick back [session] and 500 people came for the sit-down . . . and it was a chance to explain more about soca music.
There was no denying Differentology placed Bunji on newer stages. In fact, the Carnival Tabanca singer was also awarded the Best International Performance for the song. In his opinion, the fusion of soca and electronic riffs was helpful, but not necessary.
“What was necessary was that we create quality content, whatever we are singing . . . . Our challenge is that the region only wants to play music when it is time for us to celebrate. Differentology has broken that mould and it went beyond the season twice. . . . We would listen to hip hop from 10 years ago and still be hype about it, but we don’t get hype for our own music.”
ViQueen Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez stands proud of her husband’s success. However, she will not be pushed into a corner: “I think women can be seen as strong and powerful . . . regardless as to whom they are with. It all depends on the woman and what you want, how you feel and what you think your strength is,” she asserted.
“I look at myself as the other half . . . . One of the things is that women tend to allow others to put them on the back . . . be seen and not heard . . . . The new sexy is being able to stand next to your man or significant other and be able to hold your own but be able to support him. That’s sexy,” she said.
