New blood is taking over the Crop Over music scene.
With the announcement of the Sweet Soca and Party Monarch semi-finalists yesterday, 12 new names were counted over both lists.
But, while the Party Monarch competition has seen a slight increase in entries, the Sweet Soca has experienced a small decline.
The National Cultural Foundation’s Adisa Andwele, producer of the event, said he was happy with the numbers overall, with Sweet Soca having 109 entries and Party Monarch, 61. Last year, the numbers were 116 and 57, respectively.
Last year, Red Plastic Bag took the Sweet Soca crown and Lil Rick, the Party Monarch.
“While not a significant increase for Party Monarch, we are happy that people are showing a little more interest, especially with the trend over the last five years where Sweet Soca has dominated. It is the flagship for the Barbadian music of this time, but to see Party Monarch (increase), maybe a trend has started to shift. We had taken it out of the tents for the past five years and judged it as fairly as Sweet Soca,” said Andwele.
He also spoke about the technical production of both genres, with the bashment influencing some of the rhythms and how the lyrics had improved.
Andwele said with the new names, he was very happy that many were taking the bold step to enter the competitions.
“This shows what is happening with the music. There are a lot of young singers that I have never heard before and for the first time they are in the semi-finals. These are not names known to us. And for some who didn’t get through, you can hear the potential of the voices and the styling.”
Doing the double in both competitions is the lone female Nikita along with Kirk Brown, Mikey and iWeb, who teams up with MRBLOOD for Party Monarch.
Stiffy, who will be fighting to take the crown in the Yello International Bashment Soca competition on that same night – Phenomenal Friday on July 6 at Kensington Oval – is in the Party Monarch semis.
“I have always been a fan of party. It is a big moment for me and my team. Just means I have extra homework to do,” he told the DAILY NATION.
Mikey said his Sweet Soca song has been getting good airplay. “I just released the party song and it is picking up slowly. Hopefully, now, the party songs will get a bit more attention.”
iWeb, who had a Bashment Soca entry that did not make it, said he was happy with the judges picking both songs to compete.
The artistes for both competitions are to meet at the National Cultural Foundation tomorrow with their scores, CDs and lyrics to draw for positions. (NS)
