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Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca—your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.

 
I am constantly looking for the next topic for a post to keep things buzzing  at Sokah2Soca. I call it as I see it; yes, I call balls and strikes as it relates to Soca and our culture. So, when I came across the image posted above, I said, "Damn, this is the ideal post to debunk." To be honest, it looks good, and it may feel good, but truth be told, I have to say... I don't think so, dear Team Soca!
 
Indeed, Soca is deeply ingrained in our culture; it is the offspring of Calypso and, to a certain extent, embodies the essence of the Calypsons. I believe that the artists are deviating in terms of melody and musical style, but I must emphasize that the following statement is true:  Soca music is vibrant, powerful, and deeply rooted in Caribbean culture. Caribbean people love to party, and Soca music serves to uplift, unify, and energize them. But to claim that “Soca music doesn’t lie” and that “if there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through soca music” is poetic—but not factual. Yes, it may feel good to say it, but let's get real... No!
 
We hold great admiration for all of you at @TeamSoca, but here is why that statement warrants a reality check:
 
1. Music is an expression, not absolute truth.
Soca, like all genres, is a form of artistic expression. Lyricists deliver musical code—emotions, fantasies, exaggerations, and contradictions. Just like Calypso, Soca can be playful, political, aspirational, or mischievous.
 
Saying it “doesn’t lie” ignores the creative liberties artists take. Hey, I get it—you’re not talking about lies in the literal sense. You’re speaking figuratively and showing your creativity, inspired by the griot tradition, out of love for the music. But let’s not confuse metaphor with gospel.
 
2. Change Comes from Collective Action
Music can inspire change, yes—but there is more to it and Soca is not the only driver here. Real-world change comes from policy, activism, education, innovation, and community efforts. The industry is grappling with numerous misconceptions and challenges. Even in Trinidad, KG Muzik is struggling with the grip of the Soca Griots and the lack of help for upcoming artists. Soca may be a soundtrack to revolution, but it’s not the sole engine.
 
3. Soca Has Its Own Myths and Escapism
Each Soca song takes us on a journey. Songs depict a lifestyle of endless partying, romanticizing island life, and depicting the Caribbean as a paradise—sun, sea, freedom, and sensuality—with little mention of the region’s social, economic, or political complexities. That’s part of its charm—but it’s not always grounded in reality. To say it “doesn’t lie” is to ignore its role in fantasy and celebration.
 
Let's conclude by saying the following: Soca is a powerful cultural force, but it’s not infallible or omnipotent (all-powerful). Let’s celebrate its impact without turning it into dogma (a system of belief). 
 
And while we’re here—producers, please: color the music. Let’s move beyond the same bass-and-drum-kit formulas. Soca deserves sonic evolution, not repetition.
 
Tagging with love: @TeamSoca. Let’s keep the vibes real and honest.
 
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music, as doing so denies songwriters, producers, and artists essential revenue. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like FacebookYouTubeInstagramSpotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS FeedThreadsBluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
 
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: King Liar 
Artist/Performed by: Lord Nelson 
Album: Ah Ha
Written by: Lord Nelson 
Arranged by: Art De Coteau
Label: Charlie's Record
Year: 1977
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Calypso ?
 
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca Thrive!
 
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

This post first appeared on Sokah2Soca, where Caribbean music meets wit, rhythm, and real talk. Island Vybe Radio spins the tunes—we decode the culture.

 
Tobago’s Fall Carnival is heating up, and this mix is your first taste of the steam! As the twin-island republic gears up for October 2025, Tobago is calling—get ready for Soca and Calypso competitions, Steelband performances, J’ouvert, Parade of the Bands, and yes, fetes for days.
 
Whether you're a local from the big sister isle or flying in from abroad, this Carnival is your warm-up for Trinidad’s 2026 showdown, scheduled for October 24–26. And remember: those dates don’t even cover the avalanche of pre-Carnival parties!
 
This mix? It’s pure Tobago energy—sunset vibes, Soca fire, and that sweet anticipation of bacchanal to come. Tobago Carnival (Sunset Steam) Soca Mix—curated and mixed by Selectah Stefon—is pure Tobago energy: sunset vibes, Soca fire, and that sweet anticipation of bacchanal to come.
 
Tobago’s Carnival is growing fast, drawing crowds from Trinidad and beyond. It’s going to be a vibe, a celebration, and a perfect prep for the road ahead.
 
Carnival dates are just the tip of the iceberg—fetes start early and end late. Press play, prep your waistline, and let the Sunset Steam rise. ? Press play, prep your waistline, and let the Sunset Steam rise.
 
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music, as doing so denies songwriters, producers, and artists essential revenue. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like FacebookYouTubeInstagramSpotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS FeedThreadsBluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
 
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Tobago Carnival (Sunset Steam) Soca Mix 
Curated, Mixed & Presented by: Selectah Stefon
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Soca ?
 
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca Thrive!
 
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca—your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.

 
There’s a quiet ache in the heart of Soca lovers—an ache masked by the euphoria of Carnival, the thunder of basslines, and the glitter of feting culture. But beneath the surface, something is missing. Something sacred. Something soulful.
 
At Sokah2Soca, we’ve long celebrated the evolution of Soca, but today we pause to reflect. The genre has drifted—driven by digital convenience, stripped of its instrumental warmth, and divorced from the melodic intimacy that once defined Groove Soca. The guitar licks are gone. The brass section silenced. The heartbeat of the music is replaced by loops and presets.
 
We call this new wave “Bacchanal Soca,” or for markets inside and outside the diaspora, "Party Soca"—a style engineered for instant hype, optimized for the party, but often lacking the emotional depth that made Soca a cultural force. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s everywhere. But is it timeless?
 
Where is the storytelling? The musicality? The soul?
 
We’re not here to tear down. We’re here to build up. To inspire. To challenge. Sokah2Soca is crying in the diaspora—not for nostalgia, but for balance. We believe Soca can be more than a Carnival soundtrack. It can be a year-round celebration of Caribbean artistry. As an example, artists like Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, Kes the Band and a few others create music with 'color' and lyrical content with a story/message. 
 
Imagine a new Soca—one that blends the sweetness of Groove Soca, the lyrical wisdom of Calypso, and the energy of the fete. A genre that moves your waistline and your spirit. A genre that dares to go beyond the Savannah Grass.
 
We call on producers, musicians, and artists to rise. To experiment. To bring back the guitar, the horns, and the live feel. To create a “Fusion Soca”—a sound that honors the past while pushing the boundaries of the future.
 
Sokah2Soca is not just a blog. We are the heartbeat of the diaspora. The conscience of Soca. The voice calling for a renaissance.
 
Let the movement begin.
 
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music, as doing so denies songwriters, producers, and artists essential revenue. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like FacebookYouTubeInstagramSpotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS FeedThreadsBluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
 
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Soca Zess Promo Mix
Curated, Mixed & Presented by: Indego Central 
Mixtape Year: 2021 (Caribbean Vibes)
Genre: Soca ?
 
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca Thrive!
 
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.

This post first appeared on Sokah2Soca, where Caribbean music meets wit, rhythm, and real talk. Island Vybe Radio spins the tunes—we decode the culture.

 
Let me say this out front: I like this song! I love Groove Soca music and when a production catches me, I am all in. This song, titled “Same Time,” is the latest collaboration between Lyrikal and MadLypso. So let me tell you what I love about the song. It is a smooth, vibe-heavy anthem that blends lyrical relevance with rhythmic finesse. Now comes the magic: the song was produced by Johan Seaton and penned by Kern Rose alongside Lyro himself; this track is a testament to what happens when seasoned artistry meets sharp storytelling and voices that make you feel warm inside. 
 
Lyrics are important, and vocals sweeten the vibe, but it is the music that sets the mood and warms your soul. The music that “Same Time” delivers pulls you into its flow—easy, infectious, and unmistakably Caribbean. Lyrikal vocals are distinctive; he delivers his signature good vibes with clarity and charisma. And while MadLypso adds a textured layer that elevates the groove, we fall into  the charm of the music production. This work is polished yet soulful, allowing the lyrics to breathe and resonate in today’s cultural climate.
 
So let me repeat myself: I love Groove Soca music and especially the style that comes out of Trinidad and Trinbago artists. This song delivers everything I love about Groove Soca and yes, it sits squarely in the genre's sweet spot: melodic, danceable, and emotionally tuned. It’s not just about the rhythm—it’s about the message, the mood, and the movement. Whether you're winding down or gearing up, “Same Time” fits the moment.
 
Sokah2Soca recommends this one. It’s a reminder that when talent aligns, magic happens—same time, same vibe, same fire.
 
Let us spread awareness of the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
We do this to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and stories of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy reaches a wider audience and fosters creativity and connections. While it is important to always purchase music, you should avoid sharing promotional music, as doing so denies songwriters, producers, and artists essential revenue. You can find all of our posts online on social media platforms like FacebookYouTubeInstagramSpotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend that you explore your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS FeedThreadsBluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
 
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Same Time
Artists/Performed by: Lyrikal x MadLypso
Produced by: Johann Seaton
Written by: Kern Rose & Lyrikal (Devon Martin) 
Label: MadLypso
Engineered (Mixed & Mastered) by: *****
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Soca ?
 
?Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but also on a daily basis. Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca Thrive!
 
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
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