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UPDATE: Finalists announced for 1st VI Soca Monarch

Hashim Lewis (right) had the club pumping as his song "Jump, Wave, Wine" was more than a call of the wild but a true awakening of what soca is all about; jumping, wining and waving. ‘Iiyah link’ is the stage name of David James (left), a ‘Trini’ who entered three songs for the Soca Monarch competition; ‘Not Today’, Rhythm girl’, and ‘Grinding’. Photo: VINO
There were no actual live performances, however, as contestants were required to submit a compact disc (CD) with their songs, which were then played for a panel of judges to decide who would go on to the next round. Despite this arrangement, the singers made themselves quite visible when their song/s were played as they took to the stage with some of their supporters to create a soca party with a first-time made public line of lyrics. Photo: VINO
There were no actual live performances, however, as contestants were required to submit a compact disc (CD) with their songs, which were then played for a panel of judges to decide who would go on to the next round. Despite this arrangement, the singers made themselves quite visible when their song/s were played as they took to the stage with some of their supporters to create a soca party with a first-time made public line of lyrics. Photo: VINO
Kaydesha Brackin aka 'Keybe' said she is a first timer to stage performance with an original song. Her piece 'All in all' was no doubt one of the hottest heard last night, June 28, 2013. Photo: VINO
Kaydesha Brackin aka 'Keybe' said she is a first timer to stage performance with an original song. Her piece 'All in all' was no doubt one of the hottest heard last night, June 28, 2013. Photo: VINO
Derrick Browne aka 'Black Syrian' was also among those who turned out to pull a fan line-up. He did ‘Money Gram’ and said it is his first time at soca. Photo: VINO
Derrick Browne aka 'Black Syrian' was also among those who turned out to pull a fan line-up. He did ‘Money Gram’ and said it is his first time at soca. Photo: VINO
Julian Cato aka Ojinga's ‘Suck a Sweetie’ was the hottest brain teaser with a hot rhythm for the night. Photo: VINO
Julian Cato aka Ojinga's ‘Suck a Sweetie’ was the hottest brain teaser with a hot rhythm for the night. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The organising committee for the first ever Soca Monarch competition to be held in the Virgin Islands as a key activity of this year’s Festival has released the names of the finalists.

According to coordinator Mr Eustance “Boss” Freeman, nine have made it for the Groovey finals while seven are going through for the Power segment.

The finalists were announced on Zrod FM's Morning Ride Show with Paul 'Gadietz' Peart today, July 3, 2013. 
Those making it through for the Groovey category are Tino - Facebook mashup my relationship, Makisha-Sumtin I could work with, Dante- Soca wine, Joe ranking/Dante-Spanglish, Hashim- Can't miss it, Keybe- All in All, Shiloh - Come Back, Nazarene -Big Bum.

In the Power segment are Mr KC –Ban Me, Kingman- Super Cop, JJ-Two Hands, Tino-Mad People, Ras Beach- Good+Bad, Joe Ranking-Relevant and Daddy Pit- Fire in de hole.

According to the coordinator, the committee will be staging a sizzling launch party at Club Opium at Baughers Bay on Friday July 12, 2013. "It's called the BVI Soca Competition Launch Party and while there will be a small entrance fee. It's going to be a real hot first time soca launch party," Mr Freeman said.

The launch party is expected to have all the finalists in attendance and will feature 'Onion' out of Antigua and the all time popular Showtime Band.

See previous article posted on June 29, 2013:

Elimination round held for first VI Soca Monarch

-Results withheld

BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Da Spot in Baughers Bay was the hot spot for soca monarch hopefuls and supporters when the elimination round for the first ever VI Festival Soca Monarch was staged on June 28, 2013.

There were no actual live performances, however, as contestants were required to submit a compact disc (CD) with their songs, which were then played for a panel of judges to decide who would go on to the next round.

Despite this arrangement, the singers made themselves quite visible when their song/s were played as they took to the stage with some of their supporters to create a soca party with a first-time made public line of lyrics.

Many persons who turned out at the event were of the opinion they would have had known results immediately following the judging, however the organisers took a decision to prolong the excitement and anticipation as they said the announcement will be done at a subsequent event in the making.

The judging was not done according to the quality of the CDs but judges were to concentrate on the music; the lyrics, melody, arrangement, vocal performance and groove-in the case of the groovy category.

On Wednesday July 31, 2013 the singers will take to the big stage for the first ever Soca Monarch in the Territory.

Virgin Islands News Online caught up with a few of the artistes at the first leg of the competition last night.

Kaydesha Brackin aka 'Keybe' said she is a first timer to stage performance with an original song. Her piece 'All in all' was no doubt one of the hottest heard last night.  She is from St. Vincent originally but resides and works in the Virgin Islands and said she is a must for the next round but anticipates having the “jitter bug” for the finals as she is not too sure what the judges would be looking for and the fact that she would not be before her home crowd. "Honestly I don't know because I really don't know what the people want and besides it’s my first time performing in another country, so I have my radar set at 85 out of 100," she said.

‘Spanglish’ is a song with a blend of Spanish and English done by Randy Ramirez aka Joe Ranking, a Trinidad and Tobago hot boy who had the soca spirit clustering the club. The other song he did was called ‘Best girl’. "Me ready and hotter than hot, consider it done because I blazing hot and sure to advance, " a confident Joe Ranking said. Like most of the others, he said singing was nothing new to him but rather, "music defines me and I am from the world's capital of soca, so I got it."

‘Iiyah link’ is the stage name of David James, another ‘Trini’ who entered three songs for the Soca Monarch competition; ‘Not Today’, Rhythm girl’, and ‘Grinding’. "Sure go, I am a sure one; no worries soca is going to be real hot for the festival. It was one of the best things they did to include a soca competition this year and watch out, the crown belongs to me,” the young man said with a laugh.

Hashim Lewis had the club pumping as his song "Jump, Wave, Wine" was more than a call of the wild but a true awakening of what soca is all about; jumping, wining and waving. He has been doing music for about 5 years but only 3 years when it comes to soca.

Lewis has participated in the VI Idol and won on Top 7@7 Awards among other stage shows and competitions. "I am really confident. They got some good talent in the competition but after spending a few months in Trinidad among some of the hottest performers, I think I am prepared to be the first Soca Monarch of the BVI."

SWAT (Soca With A Twist) is his official style and he said the audience really felt and blended with his song. "Weather I am the crowd favourite or underdog I always get up and give a good show." Hashim already has a mixed tape out under the SWAT label.

Julian Cato aka Ojinga's ‘Suck a Sweetie’ was the hottest brain teaser with a hot rhythm for the night. What's up with the suck a sweetie title? This news site was forced to question and he responded, "That a song you could and would draw your own conclusion of what is the message and that's the idea but the story I am telling is that a lady cook some fungi for me and  tells me to suck a sweetie before eating the fungi."

Derrick Browne aka 'Black Syrian' was also among those who turned out to pull a fan line-up. He did ‘Money Gram’ and said it is his first time at soca. He is more on the calypso side as he will also be vying for the Calypso King competition. He thinks his chances are real good. The East End/Long Look resident said he likes doing songs that can be used to promote the VI and can do well for the tourism industry.

"If I don't make it to the finals I'll just have to enter again but am positive I'll make it," Browne told Virgin Islands News Online.

More than 20 persons have entered the inaugural soca competition and seven will advance in the Groovy segment and seven in the Power segment.

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