Soca Chronicles
Soca Chronicles
Island-Hopping Through Carnival Season and Interview with Nadia Batson
Sharnz and Arkayo take listeners on a whirlwind tour of the summer carnival circuit, sharing experiences from St. Lucia to Notting Hill and featuring an exclusive interview with soca star Nadia Batson.
• St. Lucia Carnival highlights and Road March winners with "The Car" by Dezral and Jardel taking first place
• Barbados Crop Over experiences including a review by our good friend Bramble
• Grenada's stellar year for soca music with Lil Kerry's "Bury All" winning Road March
• Exclusive interview with Nadia Batson at Belgium's Antilliaanse Feesten about her musical journey and advice for upcoming artists
• Reflections on Notting Hill Carnival and tips for navigating Europe's largest Caribbean festival
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Soca Chronicles on Instagram @soca_chronicles and share with friends who love Caribbean culture and music.
Antiliaanse Feesten Instagram here.
Welcome to the Soca Chronicles. Soca Chronicles with Sharns and RKO.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the 48th episode of Soca Chronicles, the podcast that brings you everything Soca. I'm RKO and I'm digitally sitting next to the one and only Sharns.
Speaker 3:Y-y-y-y-y-yo.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's my yo-yo-yo. I was just waiting for it and I'm just I. Yeah, I keep thinking that people listening to this podcast for the first time, they they from the first minute. They have no clue what's going on. But don't worry, we're going to talk about soca. So everything is well in life and in the world and there is much to discuss this month Because it was high season for Carnival.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:So one of us went to St Lucia and Barbados. We'll talk about that, or at least that person will talk about it a lot. We're going to talk about Grenada. Then two of the people making this podcast actually went to Ante Anse Feeste, which we'll discuss, where we had a little interview.
Speaker 4:Listen, rko, can you stop smouldering up the ting? Just don't do that. You've not smouldered up the ting in time and this is like a big, big, big ting and you want to smoulders one up.
Speaker 2:Nah, it's huge. It's by far the biggest artist, artist, sorry, the biggest artist We've interviewed In Soho Chronicles.
Speaker 4:Oh, yes, ever, 100%, 100%. So this is the last episode Of the fourth year we're doing it and we're going to close it out.
Speaker 2:With a big name.
Speaker 4:There we go so.
Speaker 2:That's sick. A big interview coming up and then, last but not least, we're going to talk about a carnival where both of us have been, have gone to, which is nothing hill carnival. There's plenty to discuss. I say let's get into it I agree, let's go soca chronicles starting off with the bomb bomb wall and sharon's experience of the Bomb Bomb Wall.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, oh yeah, and the big fail that happened.
Speaker 2:Anyway, I'm not going to spoil too much of the fun.
Speaker 4:Let's not, let's not. But before I talk about my experience in St Lucia, can we just discuss the Road March, or not even discuss, but just mention the Road March results?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, absolutely, Absolutely, even discuss, but just mention the road march results.
Speaker 4:Oh, yeah, absolutely, absolutely, because I feel like I'm gonna chat so much we're gonna forget the road march, and I don't want to do that. That won't be good, right? So road march results in first place and this first place, this first place song Does not surprise me, because the way this song got rinsed. Yeah, it's huge, yeah, it got rinsed and I knew it was going to win. I absolutely knew it. So in first place was Desiree and Jardel With the Car.
Speaker 2:And when you get the car you gotta oi the car. Yeah, it's the embodiment of Lucien Soka.
Speaker 4:Honestly, it's amazing yeah yeah, yeah, big song, big song. And then in second place was Ricky T and Hollywood HP with Freak Out.
Speaker 2:Big tune.
Speaker 4:Which that rhythm? It's been packaged as a brand new rhythm, but it's literally the same as mad people segment. Mad people segment yeah, did you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, now that you know that you see actually, yeah, that's insane.
Speaker 4:It's basically the same rhythm, basically. I think this one's called breakout rhythm, this new one, I think something yes, they broke it out of the closet again. Yeah, literally. And then in third place was Carlto with I Cry.
Speaker 2:Now, this song was so I love that song. Yeah, wah, wah, wah I.
Speaker 5:Cry, love that song.
Speaker 4:Wah, wah, wah yeah. Big song, big song, so yeah. So those were the Roadmarch results. None of those results shocked me or surprised me. I knew all three of those results shocked me or surprised me. I knew all three of those would place. Um, yeah, so this was my first st lucia carnival well, my first time participating in it, because the last time I went to st lucia was 2016 and I was there from I think it was like a thursday till till the Monday, and I didn't even realize it was carnival when I went, which is crazy. So I think I remember like some sort of circle monarch thing that I went to by accident, but of course, I missed carnival Monday. I missed carnival Tuesday when I went, so that doesn't count.
Speaker 4:So this was like the first time where I'm like, yep, I'm going to do all the events. You know I didn't do costume or anything because I just wanted to be like a roadside warrior. That was my thing, because I wanted to cut down on the costs, obviously me doing St Lucia and Barbados back to back. You know my pockets are not long like a giraffe's neck, so you know I got to pick and choose. No, no, no.
Speaker 2:I mean. No no, you're an international DJ, you know. You know what? Let's just cut.
Speaker 4:This podcast is over. I'm done. I'm walking away.
Speaker 2:No, we still have this big interview to have, so no, not now.
Speaker 4:Not gonna happen, yeah. So I enjoyed it, like St Lucia is such a beautiful island, like the sceneries the sceneries. The scenery is crazy. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, it's lovely. I really enjoyed the grosile fish fry on the friday night. So it was giving oysters vibes, but better, because I'm over oysters now I'm over oysters, and I don't care who fell off my chair almost yeah, I don't care who wants to come for me, who wants to cuss me, like I am so over oysters now, like I don't even.
Speaker 2:I can't even remember the last time I went to oysters, bro, I don't even go who hurt you it's for it's for tourists, bro, I'm not a tourist I mean, you brought me like every single time I went there, yeah, and when was the last time? Because I'm a tourist there we go.
Speaker 4:You went. What your last time?
Speaker 2:Last time you were there.
Speaker 4:Did we even go to Oystins when you last went? No, I don't think so. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't think we did.
Speaker 4:because my sister was there, we didn't go to Oystins.
Speaker 2:No, you're right.
Speaker 4:Exactly.
Speaker 2:I like.
Speaker 4:Oystins, bro, I'm not, not a tourist.
Speaker 2:Sorry, you're a local.
Speaker 4:I yeah, so honestly it, the the grosile fish fry was amazing. I really enjoyed it and our good friend super nitro was djing there, mashed up the whole place yeah, I was obviously the videographer because you know me, I'd be the fangirl, I'd be the groupie you know how it goes um, yeah, I would say what would?
Speaker 4:what was my favorite fet for saint lucia? I haven't even thought about this properly, but I went to remedy, I went to um sun up and at sun up I got bun up. So I left with like my first ever major sunburn, which is crazy, absolutely crazy. But that's another story.
Speaker 2:I would have been a tomato then, yeah yeah, you, my friend.
Speaker 4:you would have lost all of your skin. It wouldn't have been regenerated bro.
Speaker 2:I'd have to get a new one somewhere.
Speaker 4:Literally we'd have to get skin graft or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hope they have my size somewhere, literally.
Speaker 4:It was crazy hot, like St Lucia for me was like way hotter than Barbados, like way hotter it was insane, but sun up was like a breakfast fit it was.
Speaker 4:It was really good I had. I had a great time. The food was good, the music was good, the men look good, jesus, peace, yeah, I mean, yeah, it was great. Um, I didn't even get to do any boat rides while I was there, which was I was a bit bummed out about because the boat ride I wanted to go to was the day that I left oh yeah, which was yeah, it was, and I heard that it was like really good as well, the shit probably.
Speaker 4:Yeah, exactly, of course, yeah that it was like really good as well, the shit, probably yeah, exactly, of course. Yeah, that one was called Bend. What was my favorite event?
Speaker 2:Maybe it was the road.
Speaker 4:No, the road was good, but I wouldn't say it was my favorite, but it was good. It may have been Sunup, you know, I'm not too sure the one that you got burned on. Even though I got bun up at sun up, I still enjoyed it. There was one event, oh my days. There was one event brazen I think it was where, imagine I was listening to songs like I don't care, I love it and those sort of cheesy pop songs. Why am I hearing that? In a circle party, please? Why am I hearing?
Speaker 4:that, yeah, what's that Like cool Played on.
Speaker 2:That was very brazen.
Speaker 4:Literally, and I will big you up on that joke. That's one I can accept.
Speaker 5:Because normally your jokes are terrible.
Speaker 2:But I'll let you have that one. That's actually the first big up. I got them for you, I think, literally Since five years or something. Yeah, something like that.
Speaker 4:But yeah, so I was at that point. So that was kind of towards the end of the party and I was hearing all them pop songs and I'm like this is dead and I was ready to leave. But I was not the designated driver. I had a designated driver who wasn't ready to leave yet and one person in our crew had gone missing. So it was like damn, I can't even leave I can't wait till we find the other guy and then we left. So, yeah, that was really disappointing um but yeah, that's wild though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did a lot I did a lot incia.
Speaker 4:So there was one day when so it was the day I did sun up actually. So sun up we did in the morning, and then came home, had like a one hour nap or two hour nap or something, and then we had brazen, came back, had like another like one or two hour nap, and then we had juve morning juve morning we jump in literally, bro, when I told you I was so tired I couldn't enjoy it, like, oh yeah, I was just like that's the age man I want to go home and the thing is it was it was far like.
Speaker 4:It took us, I think, about 30 to 45 minutes to drive there, whereas all the other fetts we had gone to was like 10 15 minute drive yeah and I was so tired I could not drink any alcohol. I said if I drink, alcohol I am going to drop down on this floor and somebody has to carry me.
Speaker 4:I couldn't, I couldn't do it so I paid 70 us dollars yeah, oh shit for this viking helmet because the band was vikings. For my vikings helmet, a t-shirt no, I didn't even get a t-shirt so literally for a helmet people yeah, they gave me a helmet. They gave me, like um one of them glow stick things.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And that was it. I paid 70 US dollars for those two items. Basically, I didn't even get my money's worth. You know me, I'll normally get my money's worth when it comes to drinks and stuff. I couldn't, yeah, couldn't do it. I was miserable the whole time. So what I've learned is, if I do St Lucia again, I'm not doing Juve morning, I'm not doing Juve morning, I'm just going to rest, because then after Juve morning it's the road. Oh, so we literally had to leave Juve morning, drive back, sleep, and because we had got back, I think we got back at like eight or nine in the morning- and the road starts from literally about 10 am or maybe even before that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that makes no sense.
Speaker 4:That's what I'm saying. And we basically, by the time we got back to the road, we had more or less missed all the bands, shit, so it's like we were chasing after them. So we had to walk, for I think it was like a 40 minute walk.
Speaker 2:Wild.
Speaker 4:For us to catch up to the band. So by that time I had missed the bum bum wall.
Speaker 5:So I walked past the bum bum wall, but there was no bum bums on top of it, so I completely missed the bum bum wall.
Speaker 2:Oh that bums on top of it, so I completely missed the bum bum war. Oh that sucks, man, which was crazy.
Speaker 4:That's the one thing that you can enjoy. That's what I'm saying. All because we decided to be stupid, stupid and go to juve morning. So we learned don't do that again. So then we finally caught up with the bands. We still had a good time, etc, etc. But I was kind of a bit bummed out that I missed the bum bum wall. But I was like do you know what? There's two days of carnivals. So I was like, let's try again Tuesday. But then Tuesday I had to go to the airport to drop somebody. So again I missed the bum bum wall.
Speaker 2:Missing the bum bum wall again.
Speaker 4:I missed it, so I wall again. I missed it, so I didn't get to see the bum bum wall, yeah, which was a bit disappointing, but and I wanted to shake my bum bum on the bum bum wall and I didn't get to do that.
Speaker 2:You could have done it, but it would be a bit weird in these just me on my own just yeah can you imagine? I can. I am actually right now and it looks quite funny.
Speaker 4:That's crazy so yeah, I missed the bum. Bum war people but, it was definitely a good experience. I saw quite a few people I knew, um, yeah, and just brought my drink with me and you know, vibing with my two breads in them and um yeah, so sed lucia was nice. So I did one week and it was straight to barbados afterwards. But you know, barbados for me is like my second home, so you know me.
Speaker 4:I'm gonna have a time regardless. Um, but yeah, so that was St Lucia. Oh so, remember, every time I go away, I feel like I've always got some sort of like story that involves a bit of drama.
Speaker 2:Oh, of course I was waiting for it yeah, I almost forgot.
Speaker 4:So I flew to st lucia like the wednesday after carnival to go back to barbados. So initially my flight was like 4 30 pm yeah, yeah when I first booked it.
Speaker 4:And then I'm checking flights, what? Maybe three, four months down the line because somebody else needed to book a flight and they wanted to be on my flight. So then I'm checking and I'm not seeing a 4.30 flight online. Oh what? Yeah, I'm seeing. I think it was like 3.50 or 3.20 or something like that. It was like three something PM. So I'm like what's going on here? So obviously, naturally, I've emailed the company and they've said to me oh no, you know, you're on the free something flight, so they've changed the time of the flight and they've not emailed me, they've not updated me at all.
Speaker 4:They've just changed it so now imagine if I got to the airport late and I've missed my flight. They're gonna be like oh well, that's your fault, do you know? I mean, and I've lost all that money. So, anyway, I then I think it was like the day before I was flying or on the morning, something said to me check the time of your flight again. They had changed the flight back to 4.30. Wow Make it make sense.
Speaker 2:Well, if you didn't know, nothing would have changed. Yeah, I just would have been early so that's not even the worst of it.
Speaker 4:So I get to the airport now and they're telling me oh yeah, the flight's delayed. Um, we're not sure how long it's delayed for, but it's looking like until maybe about 6 pm I'm thinking 6 pm and I was at the airport on my own as well, I wasn't sitting with anyone so it's like you know, if you're with somebody else, you know you can just chill with them, banter whatever, and across the road from the airport they have like a bar yeah so I was like all right, cool, I'm just gonna chill by the bar.
Speaker 4:Just got my laptop out, started watching stuff like series on there well, whatever, whatever. So they said to me, come back at a certain time and then we can, you know, give you an update. So I went back and they're like yep, the flight's delayed even further you know, come back in an hour and check again I'm like when it happens yo, I went back now and this was, I think, like seven something pm. Now like OK, yep, your flight has just left St Lucia. It's on its way to Barbados.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God.
Speaker 4:It needs to pick up, it needs to drop people off in Barbados, it needs to pick more people up, bring them to St Lucia and once that happens, then you guys can all board and then go to Barbados.
Speaker 2:So they were basically behind the flight.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm like yo. So then I went back across the road to the bar, sat there, got food from the bar Absolutely awful Waste of money and I didn't even really want to drink too much, because I had been drinking for like a week straight and I was just like sick of alcohol.
Speaker 4:So anyway, a guy came over I would say it was maybe like eight something, jesus Maybe, and then he was just like yeah, you know, the flight's almost here. You know, um, you can come through and start going through immigration, etc. Etc. So yeah, we got to barbados, like so late.
Speaker 4:I had car hire. So the car hire guy was like ready to you know, drop the car to me At the airport, etc. Etc. But obviously I had to Keep him updated. But because it started To get so late, the guy was just like to me Yo, is it alright if I just leave the car at the airport for you? And he literally just left the keys inside the car. Love it, love it, I was literally just like yep, sure, no problem, do that yeah.
Speaker 4:So I think I got to Barbados like after nine o'clock bro wow, that's insane.
Speaker 2:And then they're like four yeah, they're like to me.
Speaker 4:So I said, oh, because obviously you know within europe if your flight is delayed by three hours or more you get compensation. So they were like um, oh, it has to be delayed by, I think, five hours or something for you to get compensation. I'm like what? Are you being serious? It's different in the caribbean. They don't have the same rules whatever and then, when I looked on their website, the compensation they give you is literally just credit or points the otherwise.
Speaker 2:You know this. You can imagine this is true bankrupt. This is true because they're always late.
Speaker 4:So I'm not even gonna bother trying to claim anything. I can't be bothered.
Speaker 4:It is what it is, but yeah that was my drama and I was just like because on a wednesday, during copper river period you know it's soca state of mind I was like determined. I was tired as hell, but I was determined to go out. So I literally got in, showered, ate and was back on the road again back to soca state of mind and people were like, wow, we did not expect you to make it tonight. I was like yo, I'm outside epic I'm outside.
Speaker 4:So yeah, so that was my bit of drama, um for the trip, yeah, which was really annoying and obviously it's hot as shit. Excuse my language I just swore you know. So you're sweating and then you're getting irritated because you're hot and yeah, it was long. It was long and then it started peeing down with rain and I was just like lord give me strength and then 100 they were talking about the flight might get cancelled.
Speaker 4:I was thinking, yo can we not do this because I don't want to spend another night in sed lucia like, even though Sallusha is beautiful. I had my itinerary planned for Barbados and you know, I think me and you are kind of similar at that, like when we have like something planned out it needs to go to plan Like if it doesn't go to plan. It's like we're like all over the place.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, yeah, very at best. No, exactly literally, but I made it in the end I was happy, I was thankful, and then also because the weight restrictions are more strict.
Speaker 4:They're a lot stricter on these smaller airlines I had to like pay for my hand luggage to be checked in because it was too heavy to take. So they were like, oh yeah, your bag might not make it on the same flight as you. So I'm like, yeah, no, okay. So then I'm like, oh well, um, how will I know if my bag's not gonna make it on the flight? They said, oh, when you, when you land in barbados, you know, huh yeah, of course what do you mean?
Speaker 4:when I land in barbados I'll know. So what? Like nobody can tell me beforehand, because obviously you guys gotta load up the plane, so you know if it's going to make it or not? So you can like get a message to me, like tell one of the air hostesses all right, can you call this person? And tell them their bag's not going to make it Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but luckily both of my won the lottery because, that's right.
Speaker 4:They put them on first because they don't want to have to deal with you probably literally, and I'm glad for that because I literally, if I didn't get my bags, I would have had no clothes for the trip because I couldn't put anything in my backpack, because my backpacks got like a laptop in it and plus they've got weight restrictions. Do you know I mean? It couldn't be more than four kilos yeah my laptop alone weighs about four kilos.
Speaker 4:So it was just like, yeah, that was crazy, but yeah, st Lucia was vibes. And then Barbados, barbados. I had a great time. For me, this trip to Barbados Was probably the most successful One that I've had so far, and I'll tell you why. Obviously, I DJ'd with Colors again On the road, which was great, but I also got to play at one of my favourite FETs and it's a local FET as well Soca State of Mind. I got to play the day before I left the island, which was absolutely amazing, and I got great feedback From my set as well. Obviously, I warmed up and it actually People came in from early, so I played?
Speaker 4:I think it was 10 till 12 and from Like half past 10 there were quite a few people in there. I was like damn Literally, because you know me I always play to walls and bar stuff Apart from. At Antilleanza Festa, but we'll talk about that later on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:But I was shocked and I spoke on the microphone with my English accent. You know, love it here and there. Maybe put on a little Bajan accent. Then I apologise for it afterwards because I know it's terrible, but yeah, it was great. Barbados I want to give an honorary mention to two FETs actually no three, no two. Booze and Bacchanal is like my new favourite boat ride for Crop Over my new favourite one. So big up Scooby and the team Booze and Bacchanal's vibes. I went for the first time last year and it was epic and I said I'm never missing Boozing. Back an hour again.
Speaker 2:Nice so.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that was great. And Bliss. I've never been to Bliss In my life. It's an all inclusive party, so include your food, include your drinks, whatever. And Bramble, our good friend Bramble, has told me about Bliss Because he used to go All the time and he told me how good of a fet it was. But I had never gone because, you know, it's probably like 160 US or something. So I had to limit the amount of all-inclusive parties I go to because, as I said before, my pockets are not long.
Speaker 4:But I managed to get in for free because Super Nitro was DJing at Bliss and I got in as his plus one. Bliss is an epic party, bro, Like I would suggest for anyone If you're under 25 don't go, don't go.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, okay.
Speaker 4:We don't need children in the parties. But it's like yeah, it's a more mature, so I'd say it's like 25 plus.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Event and it was epic. The food was nice. Premium drinks yeah, it was epic, so definitely Nice. Bruising back an hour Bliss, never, ever, ever miss those parties never lost in paradise was good as well. Um, I enjoyed djing on the truck with colors. I hosted for myself again this year. Um, yeah, that, that and I didn't so four day morning. Obviously, I've only ever been with colors. I've never been with any other band for four days this year I decided to change and do a private jump. So I did a private jump with native.
Speaker 4:It was a very different experience because obviously I'm used to being on the road, going through town etc. Etc. Um, I had fun, don't get me wrong, but I definitely missed being on the road. I can't lie to you because obviously with a private jump. It's just you and the people in your band, that's it. You don't get exactly the spectators on the side. You don't get to see your other friends in different bands yeah, so that was a bit different for me, but it was still good.
Speaker 4:But I think next year I might want to be back on the road, but I'm not sure I'll make that decision next year. But yeah, I had a great time At Imbim Great, great time. Roadmarch results Didn't shock me either. I knew all three of these would place. But first place was Lead Pipe with Tech Charge Absolute banger, banger, absolutely. Probably my favourite song for the season Can't lie.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and sticks, it sticks.
Speaker 4:Yeah, definitely, and that has actually left Barbados as well, so that gets played a lot in the UK. Since I've come back, I've heard DJs that would never normally play, like the new beige and stuff.
Speaker 4:They're playing Tech Charge, so I'm just like yes, yeah, yeah, good lord second place was Jordan English with Darkers, so I got my Darkers on yeah so when I was out there it was between, like nobody knew who was going to win, but they knew first and second Was going to be Darkers and Tech Charge, but they didn't know which order it was Because every single party you went to. Those two songs were just played over and over, and over and over again for sure, and then in third place, we had Lil Rick With Call 911. Which is yeah, love that. So, yeah, very happy with the road march. Results didn't get any shockers at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that was Barbados so we did ask our good friend Bramble as well to do a quick review on his experience. He also went to Barbados and he always writes a huge review, uh, of all his like events that he to, all the songs that he listened to, all the DJs that were performing, all the producers that produced. So let's listen to Bramble for a couple of minutes and listen to his experience.
Speaker 6:Before I start my mini review, I need to thank Circle Chronicles for having me have a little segment on their show once again. So once again I went to Kropova Festival from about mid-July to a couple of days after Kuduman. So first of all, my first fit I went to was Weeting. They were celebrating 10 years which is like a powder, like a paint fit, like basically a duvet jump. It was probably like the best event I went to, even above four day and probably better than Kaduma Day this year. That was probably the best event I went to.
Speaker 6:Then I went to Tipsy, which is like a concert fete. All white performances from Edwin, rick, feyan, bungee Double M, jordan, english Mole. The FET was really good. I think the best performance was probably by Feyan, and Bungee Double M was good as well. Then I went to Circus State of Mind, which is like a local FET in Kensington car park. I re-enjoyed that FET. That's probably like the best local FET I went to. Then I went to Only Soka, which was good Another little nice local event. Then I went to Soka on the Hill, which is another like concert FET in St Peter Farley Hill. It was good. It wasn't as best as some years but I still had a good time with my cousins. Then I went to Sugar Sundays Crossfire Obviously Crossfire, that's my favorite circle group, so I had a great time seeing them perform. Then I went to Crush Cruise First time this Fete happened and probably one of the best cruises I've been on for a long while and I'm glad my friends convinced me to go to that one.
Speaker 6:Then last lap I went to Blended Utopia. First time I went there, I was highly impressed. Then I went to Mud Mosa. I usually enjoy this FET but this year please sort out, please have artificial grass if there's. If you're gonna have have the FET in St John Jamming absolutely amazing, first time I went to that cruise. Then I went to Lost in Paradise all-inclusive drinks, fet, great FET, great Fet, fet, big Up, just J and all the promoters. This year I jumped with Four Day. I went with Native, which was in Bushy Park. I'm glad I did that. Amazing, amazing time with Four Day Kuduman. Once again I went with Aura. This year they had two days, so they did Sun Mass, which was on Sunday, 10 out of 10. Kuduman I think a lot of people were tired but I still had a great time. And, yeah, I'll give my crop of experience, I'll give it a 9 out of 10.
Speaker 2:Wow, I was not expecting that from mimosa, with all the the mud and all the nonsense. Man jesus, that's also expensive, I think right yeah, mimosa is 160 us yeah, I was not happy.
Speaker 4:I was not happy with mimosa at all.
Speaker 2:I can't imagine.
Speaker 4:But I was smart and I brought my shoe covers. You knew I had my. Yeah, I had my shoe covers on. And so many people came up to me oh my god, where did you get those from? Where did you get those from? I wish I had those.
Speaker 2:Oh can you?
Speaker 4:lend me your shoe covers bro do you know what I'm hustling next year?
Speaker 2:I'm hustling I was gonna say, bring, bring a couple. That's what I'm gonna do and I'm gonna sell them yep, make money. Yep, that's, that's 100, yeah that's your trip to grenada definitely 100.
Speaker 4:I'm gonna sell them for like 20 20 beijing, that's what. 10 us, yeah, I think that's all right. Yeah, that's it, I'll make my money back quick time but yeah man. I was disappointed with Mimosa because last year I went for the first time. I had a blast and like people, so many people were complaining. It ended up on Falasoka. There were people like sliding. We were like pigs in the mud bro literally I felt like.
Speaker 4:Peppa Pig honestly, literally trust me crazy yeah, that's wild so big up Bramble for the review once again yeah loved it exactly, yeah, 100%.
Speaker 2:And then it's time to move to Grenada yeah, boy, I mean.
Speaker 4:Grenada had a year so I think you should take this one RKO okay, well, I didn't also.
Speaker 2:I neither wait. How do you say that? I didn't go to Grenada either? But my, my God, did they have a good year for music? Because, there was a fight on the road for the best song and all of them should have won Because, my God, you have, capital you have. Well, I'll just go with the top three On the third place for the road march. It was Grease it by Dread Lion, and the number one and number two Was a very tight race.
Speaker 2:But, number two, my personal favorite. Well, I say that, but Everything is my favorite at this point. Payroll by Muddy, first Burial Leo Carey, what a tune.
Speaker 2:And then, actually for the power, for the power of Socomonic Muddy one, the Payroll. I was completely expecting Burial to win that. Yeah, they were carry, but here you go. And Groovy was won by Mr Golden Downing Greens. Yeah, all good music. And that's just a couple of names of of good tunes. If you want to listen, make sure you go on soundcloud or whatever like mix platform. You like find those grenada mixes and, yeah, my god, enjoy those, because I do still up to today and I probably will do for the next couple of months definitely and as little carrie won.
Speaker 2:Uh, the road march with burial. I think we should know go to music for a second before we continue with Antoine Cerveiste and Nothing Hill and just dedicate our song of the month to the song.
Speaker 4:Yeah, boy.
Speaker 2:All right. Well, let's listen to Lil' Cary with Bury All.
Speaker 1:This is the song of the month. Feel the vibe, feel the vibe, feel the vibe, feel the vibe. Till I'm done, bury all, bury all, bury all now.
Speaker 5:Everything's pain in the air like a ransom Head. Hot up me, no, match up me, no. Come down man. A real bad job. Never bought down Everything. Up over your head now. Over your head now. Over your head now. Cover your head. Over your head now. Over your head now. Over your head now Cover your head. Head now over your head now cover your head. We just mash it up till it's over till it's over till it's over.
Speaker 1:Oh bless, turn it over, turn it over, turn it over, mash it up till it's over, till it's over, till it's over, oh bless, turn it over. Fill my cup when it's over. So grimy, I'm so grimy, I'm so grimy. Got my master me, got the job on me, and anytime that I give, I give the best of me. And when I'm done with them, believers, go, go, sign me Greenhead. I pull up in a drop the bomb and I'm gone Greenhead. If it's drop that one, then give them job in the front Greenhead. If it's mass that one, then give them mass in the front Greenhead. No city bond, it's me who does what it done to spot it down. Bury all, bury all, bury all. Now Everything's been in the air like a ransom Head. Hot up me, no, match up me no, come down, man.
Speaker 2:A real bad job. Never bought everything. Up over your head now, over your head now. Up over your head now, over your head now. Up over your head now. Over your head now. Up over your head now, over your head now. That was our song of the month Burial, burial burial.
Speaker 5:Big tune I wish.
Speaker 2:I was at an event with that song because of where he was performing. Must have been madness.
Speaker 4:Trust me, madness, I tell ya.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and I like myself some madness. Anyway, we're now entering the European side of Carnival, oh yes, starting off with the Belgium Antilliaanse Feeste, where a certain podcast host and slash international DJ was actually performing.
Speaker 4:Damn, damn, yep, yep.
Speaker 5:Yep.
Speaker 4:So, of, of course, you guys. If you've been listening for the past year, you remember that the last Antilleanso Festa, last, year. Rko made a schoolboy error and booked his accommodation. Basically, he booked his accommodation on the moon and had to take a rocket to get to the festival.
Speaker 2:Literally.
Speaker 2:So of course you know he learned his lesson and he just drove from the Netherlands this time, yeah, which was, by the way, it was like 40 minutes or something like that. So just to to add to that, just to compare it, I booked my accommodation in Antwerp, which is the same to saying like, oh, I'm having an event in the UK, let's see what's in the middle. Oh, it's Leeds, let me book my convocation leads. Not doing any further research where it was ends up being in london and anyway. So no, this was in, uh, this was near breda, which is actually dutch. Yeah, um, and I moved to a city in belgium.
Speaker 2:Anyway, this year I didn't do that, and we actually had a blast yeah and I will say well, besides you DJing, which was absolutely amazing, because of my mistake last year and because the organizers are listening to this funny and bentiful podcast, we got in backstage.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:And because of that we were able to do a big interview with one of the big names performing. Do you want? Well, actually, we already posted it online already, Exactly.
Speaker 4:Exactly Nade.
Speaker 2:Nade, exactly. So, let me put it this way Sjarns had balls enough to knock on the door and ask for an interview. I was about seven steps behind with a camera and acting like the camera boy, obviously fangirling the shit out of myself, because that's what I do whenever I see somebody soca famous. So, yeah, luckily Sharns was able to do all the talking and I didn't have to talk, because all you would hear is so you know, we did a little interview. So I think we should just uh cut to that interview for a second.
Speaker 2:It's not long, it's uh, it's six minutes yeah but I did enjoy the shit out of that for sure and actually for the people on youtube. We also have uh visuals for this, so make sure you check your screen as well, where you can see sharon's in action with nadia betson damn, this is soca chronicles welcome.
Speaker 4:so how are you finding it here in belgium's so nice? It really really is.
Speaker 3:Is this your first time?
Speaker 4:It really is. Yes, lovely, lovely, well, welcome, thank you. This is my first time in Belgium as well. Oh really, yep, welcome, thank you, and I'm really excited to DJ before you.
Speaker 5:Yes, but I'll make sure I don't play any of your songs.
Speaker 4:Yes, I won't make that amateur rookie mistake, yeah. So let's just start with a simple question. So how did you get?
Speaker 3:into Soka. You know what, for as long as I can remember, soka has just always been a part of my life, because my family loves Soka. So it used to be, you know, playing in the household, you know. So, growing up as a kid, soka. And of course, you know the greats from back in the day, the baron and Uncle Crazy, you know. So I grew up knowing and loving Soka, of course. So it was destined to be part of my trajectory?
Speaker 4:Definitely lovely, lovely. And who would you say was your inspiration growing up in Soka?
Speaker 3:You know what I have, okay, would you say, was your inspiration growing up in soka. You know what I have, okay, so in trinidad we are just influenced by so many different cultures, um, and I think it wasn't just one thing, because I always liked singing and writing, because my mom is a writer, so she would write like short stories and poems, so I know that that's where I got that from. Okay, the songwriting cup that I wear, um, and, and I started off actually singing like casitas, and then I went on to um, to R&B and okay, um, and then I started doing background vocals for a lot of soccer artists, yeah, um, and of course, all of them used to just encourage me of course to sing, because they'll be like Nadia, you have a really, really good voice.
Speaker 3:You should, yeah. So I was really inspired by all of these little snippets of my life. It wasn't just like one person or, like you know, one particular experience. Um, I think it was just many things along the way, nice, including Not only Soka.
Speaker 4:Okay yeah, do you know what I've learned? Because we've interviewed Quite a few Soka artists? And a lot of them Didn't start in Soka. No, they maybe started Like dance or Dance or yeah, like something else so it's actually Really interesting.
Speaker 4:Yes To see that, the same view, influenced by r&b and stuff. And I'm just going to ask you one more question, and this is the question that we ask to everybody we interview if you could be stuck in a studio with any soca artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Oh my, and when I say you're stuck. It's like there's like a natural disaster outside. You can't go outside, the doors are barricaded and you're just in there for just a short period, maybe like 45 minutes an hour.
Speaker 3:So it's a tough question, I know yeah because and I'll tell you why because I'm such a fan of so many other artists as well that I like different artists for different things. Okay, um, there are some artists I admire their songwriting capabilities. There are some artists I admire their stage performance, even someone like Marsha, who I admire his method of doing things. So that's a real tough one. That really is a tough one Normally.
Speaker 4:I don't allow people to choose more than one.
Speaker 1:I tell them off, but because it's you.
Speaker 4:You are the queen. I't allow people to choose more than one but because it's you. You are the queen.
Speaker 3:I will allow you to choose as many as you want. Okay, let's limit it to like I think three, three, okay, all right, okay, I can go over three. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I would have to say king david rudder, okay, yeah, I would absolutely. Oh, my goodness, because just him as a songwriter, if I could. His brain is just wired differently and. I would love to kind of get into his brain. Okay, um, I of course Marshall as well yeah yeah, of course.
Speaker 3:Who else? Oh, my gosh, oh gosh, I would. Who would I want to? We can stick to two if you want. Yeah, we can stick to two for now we can stick to two for now. If, before we end off, I think of someone else, and, like I said, it's just because of the fact that I admire so many different artists for so many different things Definitely, yeah, that's the reason why, and I've just put you on the spot as it's just because of the fact that I admire so many different artists for so many different things?
Speaker 3:Definitely yeah. That's the reason why no, and I've just put you on the spot as well. So I know when I'm put on the spot, my mind just goes blank and I literally cannot think yes yes, yes. But yeah, that's it.
Speaker 4:And last question what advice would you give to anybody who is sort of upcoming in the circus scene? And they they, you know want to flourish and be successful. Take it seriously, yeah take it seriously.
Speaker 3:I think there's there's always been, this huge misconception that soca is easy. So people are like, yeah, just gonna jump on wherever. No, no, no, no, no. That's, if you approach soca like that, you're not gonna be successful. Of course, yeah, um, and because the genre is growing so much, um, I feel as though people need to kind of tap into that and understand that you need to and, as cliche as it may sound, keep practicing your craft. Definitely you know what I mean. The artist that I am today is definitely not the artist that I was 10 years. Of course, I still, you know. Every day, every time I'm on stage, I learn different things. Every new, every new market that I touch, I see different things, so I'm able to apply it to to my craft. Um, it's just about taking it seriously, you know. Um, yes, we have a lot of fun because our music is party music and our music makes people feel good um, but we we do have to understand um the business of it as well and take it seriously definitely perfect.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you so much. I appreciate you taking the time, no problem, and I look forward to your performance yes I'm excited I'm excited this is soca chronicles what an amazing interview like. Oh my god, I was so nervous. So although rko said that I had the balls to go and talk. When I told you I was so scared and nervous but I said you know what? We have to do it because we've never like interviewed someone in person like we've never done that, yeah, and we were prepared.
Speaker 4:You brought the microphones, everything so I was like we can't, we can't flop, and obviously it was getting closer and closer to showtime for her, so it was like if it's now or never yep, yep, so I had to pull out my big girl drawers or my big girl pants, whatever you want to say I left mine home
Speaker 4:yeah and I just went and yeah, nadia was so lovely, she was just like. Yeah, no problem, you know, lovely, absolutely I love her Love her, love her, love her, 100%, 100%. And Antelianza Festa, I had a time.
Speaker 2:Big up.
Speaker 1:Big up. Trust me, pella. We love you we love you.
Speaker 4:Next year. Make sure you are. You are at anthony answer face if you don't, if you do not go, never listen to our podcast again, because we don't like you we don't like you.
Speaker 2:We do not like you. And to convince you even more, I'm just gonna say the food was great, the drinks were amazing and actually you don't have to wait that long for drinks. There's so many different Types of music, all like Oriental to the Caribbean. It's amazing. Actually, just to say, I forgot his fucking name, michael Teja.
Speaker 4:Yeah, michael Teja.
Speaker 2:The night before Nadia was performing, they had Michael Teja on stage. So you know, and actually they had New Vibes also on there as well. So there's a lot of like international Soca artists and Bands there. They had actually Dominican Artists there as well. Exactly. So yeah man, big, big festival, make sure you attend it next time, definitely but can I give you a fun fact about carlin xp?
Speaker 4:yes, please so her husband is cornell philip, who's an original member and band leader of WCK. Imagine that, oh.
Speaker 2:I did not know that.
Speaker 4:Yep, nor did I. I had never heard of Carlin before Anthony Answer faced, but now that I know, I'm going to check out her songs because she was an amazing performer, nadia.
Speaker 2:Massey's performance.
Speaker 4:By the way, can we just say how amazing it was.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, 100%, Absolutely amazing. I don't know where she gets the energy. But I also had the energy somehow there we go. My God, it was very energetic. Yep Loved it.
Speaker 4:Crazy, loved it. I'm going to say it one more time Antilleanza Feister, you have to go, you have to Yep, you have to.
Speaker 2:Can we give them the dates for next year?
Speaker 4:We definitely can, right. So you're going to have to cut this in, because I couldn't type in fast enough to get it. 6, 7 and 8th of August, so 6, 7 and 8th 2027 of.
Speaker 2:August 2026, even Jesus.
Speaker 4:So next year I'll go again next year it will be on the 6th, the 7th and the 8th of august 2026, so check out their page. I think we should link either link their website or link their ig in the description and the ig maybe, so people can click the ig just to, just to keep in the loop, etc yeah, yeah, yeah, and do note that if you want to stay all three days, there's also a camping.
Speaker 2:I've seen pictures and videos. It's vibes, there's vibes I'm not a camping man myself, especially not if it's 40 minutes away from my dear old friend, my bed. But uh, my god, it looks like vibes absolutely amazing.
Speaker 4:So please, guys, check it out. We will. I've put, we've posted some footage already from the festival on the soca chronicles page go check that out. Soca underscore chronicles on ig check that out yes, 100.
Speaker 2:Last but not least, we are gonna just quickly discuss our final carnival this month, where also we both attended. While I attended and a certain international DJ was DJing, but we're talking about Nothing Hill Carnival.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, man, been to London, not been there since 2019. So good to be back. Oh, yeah, yeah, man, it's been a time. It's been a time, and I will say this, by the way what ruined my moment last time was the rain and how cold it was. None of that this year, none of that. The sun was blazing yeah, I loved it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, 100, yep music was play.
Speaker 2:It's such a vibe. Honestly, if you ever like, think about going somewhere close in europe. Make sure you visit nothing of carnival, because it's a vibe, even if you don't want to jump in a band. There's so many block parties or like places you can get some food or, you know, get in touch with the culture.
Speaker 4:It's, it's amazing, absolutely yeah, but I'm gonna come here and be negative nancy, because I would say if you're coming to notting hill carnival and you love soca music, join a band.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 4:You have to join a band, and the reason I say join a band is because there are over two and a half million people who attend Notting Hill Carnival, from all over Europe, all over the world, plus people like local people, plus people from all over the UK as well. So think about it. You're in the streets of West London. There's so many people.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 4:There's a lot of like. The crowds are insane.
Speaker 2:Okay, this is true, this is true.
Speaker 4:And it takes a long time to get from, like one place to another, because you know you've got to, like, push through crowds, etc, etc. Which is why I say be with a band, so you're behind the ropes or you're, you're inside the ropes, I should say.
Speaker 4:and it's you and your band, you can get unlimited walk-ups you know, if you get the option, it can include your drinks or you could just bring your own drinks. But the vibe is better when you're with a band. I tell you that from now, because I've had people complain oh, it's too crowded, there's too many people, I don't like it. Join a band.
Speaker 2:That's all I'm gonna say, and the only thing I will say to that is it will be very different than carnival from like in the caribbean islands exactly that's just something I do need to mention. Uh, there is, yeah, it's very different, it's very different yeah, there is much more yeah no, no, there will be a lot of stormers.
Speaker 2:There will be a lot of things going on that you were not used to in the Caribbean, and that's all good. You know you can have it all. I guess there's definitely been some controversial things happening. Myself I witnessed a little fight right under judges' stands, that's crazy. That was quite wild indeed. Again, you will not see that in the Caribbean Islands. You can see a fight in the Caribbean Islands, but not right where the judging point is. I guess that's crazy.
Speaker 4:I'm betting that that band they're good because they were banned from. I'm not even going to mention the name of the band, but they were banned last year. They were not allowed to go on the road last year for various reasons the fact that they had a fight at judging point for all the judges to see, bro, that band they're gonna be on the road next year I'm telling you that nope, nope nope, they're gonna be on it, and if they are on the road, I will be shocked yeah, exactly 100 percent but yeah man it's a
Speaker 2:good time, it is bare vibes and uh, yeah, it's, it's. Uh, it's an experience you need to have at some point. But I will say you have to be prepared for something a bit busy.
Speaker 4:Yeah, very busy, but the events during the run-up to Notting Hill are fab, so I'm going to mention a few that you shouldn't miss. Rebel is like the weekend before, so if you can spend a week in london, you definitely have to hit up rebel dreamland. I didn't make this year.
Speaker 2:That's another juve, but it's a popular one oh, there's some stories about it as well, by the way, but we'll see if we want to discuss it later another episode crazy.
Speaker 4:They got quite a few boat rides. Remedy have like two boat rides amnesia, which is normally vibes yeah chocolate nation, team up with party and eclipse and do a boat ride. And there's so many boat rides that are happening yeah um, so many other events.
Speaker 4:Olympia, I'm going to give a massive shout out to olympia. So olympia did their all-inclusive party, carnival Friday. That party, that's the first all-inclusive Olympia party that I've been to, because the other ones I've been to they've not been all-inclusive. Nice the food choices were epic, the decorations inside the venue epic. The music epic. The way people were dressed epic. The drink selection epic. Like the food didn't run out, the drinks didn't run out. Listen levels, dj levels, big up your I don't even want to swear, but big up yourself on that and the whole olympia team.
Speaker 4:Olympia was absolutely amazing big up yourselves nice yeah honestly so if you're at notting hill, you can't miss olympia carnival friday. Just saying yep, yep, yep, yep, noted yeah, and obviously I was on the road with mangrove um the sund Sunday and the Monday. Yeah, big up Mangrove, I had a time once again. This is my second year on the road for Notting Hill Carnival.
Speaker 3:Hey, had a time.
Speaker 4:It was great yeah man Bish bash bosh, and that's all I have to say about Notting Hill Carnival.
Speaker 2:Then I think we've been talking enough anyway. So we're going gonna slowly wind down and let you go. I think what is more important now is to listen to our dear friend super nitro.
Speaker 5:Make sure you check out soca chronicles. Tag a friend, tell a friend, share the podcast. Let people know that this exists because it's good for the culture, it's good for the vibe, it's good for the energy, it's educational, it's fun, it's funny, it's bantiful and it's good for you to just know a little bit about the people that's making your music and the people that you're involved with listening to.
Speaker 2:And with that I have nothing more to say.
Speaker 4:I have a lot more to say, but I'm not going to say it Because we don't have time. But yeah, guys. For another episode We'll be back next month it will be our four year anniversary. Yeah, hopefully we have something special If we don't have something special. Then we had the big, massive, huge interview Of Nadia Batson, which we'll just pretend that that was for our four year special. So yeah, now but, yeah, guys, be safe, look after each other, and we will be back Next month.
Speaker 2:Bye, bye, see you later.
Speaker 1:You've been listening to the Soka Chronicles.
