AFTER bowing out of the Soca Monarch competitions and Carnival respectively in previous years, Neil “Iwer” George and KMC (Ken Marlon Charles) have been named as semi-finalists in this year’s Power and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions.
Names of the 45 competitors in the Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch semi-finals and the 35 semi- finalists competing for the Lotto Plus International Power Soca Monarch title were released yesterday afternoon. According to the release, 350 persons participated in the preliminary round of the 2015 competition.
The semi-finals of the competition takes place on January 25 on the Greens, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain from 2pm. This would be the first time the semi-finals are not held at the Arima Velodrome.
Last June at the Soca Monarch presentation ceremony, Iwer, who was part of a three-way tie for second place in the 2014 Power Monarch final with “Mama Oye”, said he would not be “defending any more second places”.
At that event, he thanked Caribbean Prestige Foundation, the company that produces the event, for giving him the opportunity to be part of the experience, saying he had fun, but it was time to move on. Iwer is one of several artistes that have been named as semi-finalists in both categories. When contacted, the artiste said he was not aware that the list was issued and he was in a meeting.
KMC left the Carnival arena after the 2011 season and it was reported that the artiste said soca music was not going to reach anywhere and he was not doing any soca music.
At the time he had left Trinidad to promote his music in Europe while working with 2101 Records, a subsidiary of the Universal Music label. In the same report he said that he was not “bigging up” the Trinidad industry because it did not support his music.
He has been named as a semi-finalist in the Power category. Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Semi-finalists will be performing for a spot in the finals to go up against reigning Groovy Soca Monarch, Kerwyn Dubois and Power Soca Monarch, Machel Montano. Montano, who was dethroned by Dubois in the Groovy category last year, did not enter the category this year. Following are the names of semi-finalists in the Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch and the Lotto Plus International Power Soca Monarch competitions
Groovy category:
Preedy, 5 Star Akil, Biggie Irie, Darnella Simmons, Farmer Nappy, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon, Destra Garcia, Lyrikal, Dev, Blaxx, Crazy, Erphaan Alves, Faith Antoine, Skinny Fabulous, Jahmoun, J Angel, Jojo, Zan, Chow Chow, Keriz, Kitch, Tim Tim, Young Voice, Nadia Batson, Iwer George, Sekon Sta, FaddaFox, Olatunji, Orlando Octave, Oscar B, Saddis and Leadpipe, Patrice Roberts, Ravi B, Ricardo Drue, Benjai, Chucky, Patch, Sasha, Menace, Lil Bitts, Shurwayne Winchester, Syo, Shal Marshall, Makamillion, Umi and Tallpree
Power Soca Category:
Preedy, Andrew Hitz Phillip, Ann G/Incredible Myron B, Squeezy Rankin, Super Blue, CJ,
Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon, Destra Gacrcia, Prophet Benjamin, Devon Matthews, Blaxx,
Eddie Charles, Erphann Alves, Skinny Fabulous, Snakey, Mr Killa, J Angel, Jelani, KMC, Kitch, KI, Fya Empress, Swappi 4D and Duceman, Nadia Batson, Iwer George, Sekon Sta, Granny, Patrice Roberts, RicardoDrue, RKG, Skinny Banton, Shurwayne Winchester, Shal Marshall, Jaiga TC and Pelf Buh Boy.