Soca Music

Some big names in the soca industry are Alison Hinds, Atlantik, Machel Montano, Destra Garcia, KMC, Shurwayne Winchester, Denise Belfon, Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Bomani, Kevin Lyttle, Alpha, Ninja Dan, Tizzy, Claudette Peters, Burning Flames, Nicole David, Maximus Dan, Mr Killa, Mantius Cazaubon, Fireman Hooper, Jamesy P, Tallpree, Ricky T, Qpid, and Krosfyah. Of course, there are many more soca artists that can be added to this list, but these are the ones which come to mind at present. The biggest producers of soca music are Trinidad, Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada and Antigua. In my view, there needs to be more cooperation between the various islands of the Caribbean if soca is to advance. Trinidad and Barbados music has made the biggest impact in the Caribbean but the other islands are slowly becoming a force to reckon with.

What is the history of soca music? How did this genre come about? Let's flash back for a moment. Ras Shorty I, born

Soca music offshoots include groovy soca, ragga soca, and chutney soca. We've already looked at groovy soca. Ragga soca, pioneered by Kenny Phillips from Trinidad, has a very strong reggae/dancehall influence. There is more rapping/chanting than singing in this type of song. Soca artists, Bunji Garlin and Maximus Dan from Trinidad are leaders in the ragga field. Chutney soca incorporates soca elements and Hindi-English lyrics. It makes use of Indian instruments like the dholak and dhantal. This form of music is indigenous to the southern Caribbean, primarily Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

Soca Music, An Introduction, Part One.
Soca Introduction, Part Two.
Soca Introduction, Part Three.
Soca Artists Homepage.

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