Soca Chronicles
Monthly Soca Podcast - Hosts Arkayo and Sharnz explore the people, history, and unforgettable moments behind Soca music and the Carnival experience – from legendary artists and DJ's to personal stories from the road.
Soca Chronicles
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We kick off 2026 with Sugar Mas FOMO, cruise adventures across nine islands, and a tune that won’t leave our heads. Then we go deep on ticket committees, pricing, and how exclusivity shapes the culture while mapping big plans for Brawling and the Dutch Soca scene rebound.
• Sugar Mas recap
• First-time Caribbean cruise takeaways
• Respectfully Yours as Song of the Month
• Ticket committees and event gatekeeping
• Brawling 2026 schedule highlights
• Sounds of Soca launch in Rotterdam
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Welcome to the Soka Chronicles. Welcome to episode 53 of Soka Chronicles, the podcast that brings you everything Soka. I'm Arcayo and I'm digitally sitting next to the one and only Sharns.
SPEAKER_02:Yo.
SPEAKER_01:Alright, well, I guess that's an unique way to start 2026, for sure. I'm actually thinking about making like a jingle of shards, yo-yo yo, and just before you started yo-yo yoing.
SPEAKER_05:No, no, we're not gonna do that because then you're gonna ruin my yo-yo yo.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, exactly. That's that's not the point at all. Uh but yeah, we started 2026 now, and it's also the start of a brand new carnival season. And actually the first one has already finished.
SPEAKER_05:Yep.
SPEAKER_01:Sugamas Insane Kids has finished already, and judging the videos and the reels that we've seen from there, as usual, it is something that I have high on my to-do list for a reason.
SPEAKER_05:Yep.
SPEAKER_01:It looked epic.
SPEAKER_05:Yep, yep. Definitely, but it looks epic every year, and people keep telling me you know, Sugar Mask, Sugar Mass. Obviously, it's one of the smaller carnivals because it's not mad commercialized like Trinidad or whatever. Um but because of the whole situation in the US where flights were cancelled to the Caribbean, there's somebody that I know personally on my Instagram who got stuck in St. Kitts and couldn't fly back home to the US. Yeah, because they cancelled all the flights. So I think she spent like an extra five days or something there before she could get home. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Oh wow.
SPEAKER_05:Matting. Yeah, that's matting.
SPEAKER_01:Wasn't only there because I've also known some people from the Dutch islands in the Caribbean, like uh Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonera, where they struggled to get home first because of the let's call it situation in Venezuela, and then also because there was a blizzard in the Netherlands, so they couldn't land here. So yeah, it's um in one instance it was a two-week delay. A two-week delay. That's crazy. You know what the worst part is? If the reason is Venezuela, it is not covered by any insurance because war is not coverable.
SPEAKER_02:Oh yes!
SPEAKER_01:Oh that's two weeks of hotel, baby.
SPEAKER_05:Yep, that is insane. That's not gonna be cheap, baby.
SPEAKER_01:I just hope they have bridges there because I'll be sleeping under one for sure.
SPEAKER_05:Bro, I'll just go on the beach.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, oh yeah, it's actually better than a bridge, I guess.
SPEAKER_05:It's probably easier to find a beach than a bridge.
SPEAKER_01:Makes sense. Makes sense. Anyway, speaking of St. Kitts, I think you you missed Carnival by a few days actually, didn't you? Because you you went over there. Not by plane, I think it's a good choice.
SPEAKER_05:No, not by plane. I went on the boat.
SPEAKER_01:So the ferry from uh Great Britain to St.
SPEAKER_05:Kitts or Yeah, I went from Dover and then it took about six years.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. We ended up in St.
SPEAKER_05:Kitts.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that makes sense.
SPEAKER_05:Oh nah, so I went on a Caribbean cruise actually. Um sort of mid January. Yeah, went on a two-week cruise and it ended up in St. Kitts. I've I had never been to St. Kitts before that, so I think it was maybe about two and a bit weeks after Sugar Mass. So there were still signs of it, they still had like the signs up saying, you know, Sugar Mass and blah blah blah blah. So I'm going through St. Kitts and I'm like, damn, I literally just missed out on the carnival. Um, so that was more motivation for me to be like, alright, cool, I've got to try and get there for carnival at some point. So I don't know when, but it is on the to-do list for sure.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, 100% and like I said, for me it's on the on the top of the list as well because it's during uh Christmas and New Year, and it looks like the best way to celebrate it as well. So for sure, 100% definitely bringing a new year with a bang or with a wine, for sure, and a walk up, yeah, literally what better way there, I love it.
SPEAKER_05:Definitely, but I would definitely recommend if you've never been on a cruise before, I would highly recommend it. This was my first ever cruise, and it was epic. I mean, we started in Antigua, um, then from Antigua we went to Saint Lucia, sorry, we went to Grenada first, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Barbados, and then we went to Martinique, um, St. Kitts, Tortola, St. Martin, and then back to Antigua, and then flew back to the UK. So it's nice. Obviously. So you end up at the port. Let's say you can get off the boat from about 7:30 in the morning, and then you don't have to be back on the boat until about 5 30 in the evening. So you have like the whole day. Yeah, so if if you just want to go to the beach and just chill out and you know, get grab food or whatever, you can do that, or you can go on a tour because you have all those hours to go explore the island and come back. Um, obviously, some islands you may get a feel of it and you're like, Oh, I wish I had more time. So then you can just book a trip there at a later stage and go and explore the island, which I'm gonna do for St. Martin for sure.
SPEAKER_01:Wait, wait, wait. And for Antigua.
SPEAKER_05:How does that work? What do you mean? How does that work?
SPEAKER_01:How does that work? So so so you can stay a day or you can just go back later.
SPEAKER_05:No, I mean as in I'm just gonna like book a trip and go.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, I thought the boat would leave you behind and then you can say spend an hour later or something.
SPEAKER_05:No, if the boat leaves you behind, you're screwed, bro.
SPEAKER_01:No, that's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_05:You're gonna have like all your clothes on the boat. I never ever took my passport off that boat, so then I'd be passing.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you confused me for a second there.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, no, I mean you get a taste of it, so you could be like, alright, well, next year I'm gonna book a two-day trip to Antigua or do you know what whatever. Or you can even do like a few islands in one trip, but I've done that before. I've done, well, I did St. Lucia and Barbados together last year, so I could do that. Yep, do a St. Martin and Antigua because they're really close together, you know?
SPEAKER_01:Yep, yeah, yep, yep, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_05:I think I'm gonna do that, and then obviously I've got to throw a little Barbados in there as well because I can't go all the way to the Caribbean and not go to Barbados.
SPEAKER_01:That makes sense. That makes sense, but yeah.
SPEAKER_05:So, guys, go on a cruise. Yeah, good advice from Sharon.
SPEAKER_01:I love it.
SPEAKER_05:That's it.
unknown:Moving on.
SPEAKER_01:Oh well, well, we will move on then. Um, because it's not just Sugar Moss time. Well, it's already in the past, of course, but we are also very, very, very close to the tree in the carnival. Big one, but also obviously Dominica, because it's the same time 16, 17 February.
SPEAKER_05:Yep.
SPEAKER_01:And obviously, there's gonna be, yeah, exactly. You go on, Charles, you go on.
SPEAKER_05:And once again, RKO, none of us will be there.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, that's one. Actually, I was gonna I I thought you were gonna say, uh, and once again, there's drama. No, also there. No, no, no, but yeah, we will not be there indeed, sadly.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, so we're gonna have to live vicariously through anyone who who's going. So if you're going, please post loads of footage, etc., so we can like live through you guys, man.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, tag us and we will repose it as well. And uh yeah, man, give us the vibes that we miss, please.
SPEAKER_05:Please and thanks.
SPEAKER_01:Please and thank you. But yeah, there was some not so much. Well, uh we're still waiting for a drama, I guess, but some pre-drama has already occurred. Um, mostly a confirmation from Bungie Garland that he will not be entering the big contest of the island. That was of course because last year he felt that the way it is scored at the moment is not in a fair way. So he said, as long as it's scored like this, I'm not we're not joining. Which is fair enough. If you don't like the system, then don't join the system.
SPEAKER_05:Exactly. And I'm glad he's like standing on business because you know some people would be like, Oh, you know, I'm not gonna compete, and then you know, FOMO gets them, and then next thing you know, they're competing.
SPEAKER_01:So no, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, exactly. So yeah, um, no drama around Dominica, obviously, because that's just uh, you know, the best place on earth at that time, 1617. Um yeah, uh there is one other topic I want to discuss about treating it at Carnival, and actually it also happened to us in Barbados during Carnival as well. But I do think it's time for some music first, uh Charles.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I agree. RKA. I agree.
SPEAKER_01:Do you want to do us the favor of telling us what the song of the month is, the first one of 2026?
SPEAKER_05:Well, if you insist I I do insist, yes.
unknown:Cool.
SPEAKER_05:Say less. Our song of the month, the first song of the month of 2026 is I can't wait. Okay, before I say it, I just want to say a little bit about the song. So this song has been stuck in my damn head from the time I've heard it. And it's also yep, it's also a sample. There's a bit of a sample in there, you know what I mean? Of a previous song, and it is blowing up right now. So if you haven't guessed what it is already, I am gonna put you out of your misery. So, once again, the song we have chosen for the song of the month is respectfully yours by full blown.
SPEAKER_01:Big tune. Big fucking tune.
SPEAKER_05:I swore. Oh god.
SPEAKER_01:2026 is absolutely a good start. First of all, we're song of the month, and then also which are discussing already on episode one of 2026. I love it.
SPEAKER_02:Damn.
SPEAKER_01:Um can only get better from here. Well, let's forget about a listen to this song.
SPEAKER_03:Let's go.
SPEAKER_01:And we'll be back after. All right. This is the song of the month. And that was respectfully yours. That is definitely in my head again after listening to it again, but I accept it because what a tune. What a tune. Now, for our topic of this month, I want to talk about committees that decide who gets to buy a ticket to Ahsoka event and who doesn't. This is something that is I feel coming up more and more. Uh, there was recently some um some Instagram um yeah coverage about this topic for uh Soca Street uh in Trina and Tobago, um where people have to basically upload pictures, they have to, you know, give like an essay about why they want to join, and they have to know people. Basically, if you know somebody who's in a committee, then obviously you're gonna get a ticket. It's it's under the guise of an exclusive Fed, so they want to keep it exclusive. But I kind of feel like at my opinion at least is that it's also is a bit like, yeah, come on guys, you're trying to keep out people that you don't like or something. It's not something I I think is a good thing for events. What do you think, Sharon?
SPEAKER_05:I mean there's two sides to it. Of course, um you get to keep your event exclusive and you get to weed out the riffraff, I suppose. Um but at the same time, you're depriving genuine Soka lovers from attending the event. I mean, we had to go through the same thing with Lima's cruise in Barbados where it's like trying to get blood out of a stone sometimes, trying to get tickets, and you know, obviously, luckily I found uh some guy that I knew his sister was on the committee, so you know, managed to go through him to get to her to finally get us tickets. Do you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01:So that's exactly what I mean.
SPEAKER_05:Like yeah, but from a promoter's standpoint, I mean, if you make it really hard to get into your event, it gives the event a buzz. So then people will rush to get tickets, and you know for sure that your event will sell out, you know. So I kind of see it from both.
SPEAKER_01:I understand what you're saying, but still you have to go through this committee, right? So I'm just thinking about if so I knew you, you know. Uh this is your were my into this Limers thing, because if I didn't know you, I would never have started to know where to start, if that makes sense. I would have arrived at Barbados, I would have been like, ooh, how do you buy a ticket of Limers? I would actually probably ask Chat GPT, they will come up with some nonsense answers because they don't know what that is, you know, and then I'll just be I don't know, I I don't even know where to start, honestly. Email back, I guess. Hey guys, can I can I get a ticket, please? I'm from the Netherlands, does that help? Probably not, by the way.
SPEAKER_04:Oh god, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So I I I understand what you're saying, exclusive is is uh a topic, but you know, you want people in event, you you want it's also an opportunity to to meet people, right? And you don't want only people you know or only people you've heard of, you know, there because it's it's not an us party, it's an everyone party, is what I'm trying to say.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, no, I I definitely agree with that, but then also people that do end up getting tickets, it can create you know, you get like fraudsters who will have a ticket and they'll just sell that same ticket about three, four times so you could end up getting robbed, plus they'll end up selling it for maybe double the price or whatever. Do you know what I mean? So it just kind of creates that sort of bad kind of energy on that part, but yeah, personally, I prefer if they didn't, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:No, exactly, and in the exactly that, and and in the end, if you look at uh Limers, for example, and I think Soca Street is the sim is the same or similar at least, it's a well-known event, it has proven itself before, it's it's it's epic, so it will sell out. No need to add this, and maybe it's because they've always done it that they just keep doing it or something, maybe they like the control, but uh yeah, I always found it a bit weird, you know?
SPEAKER_05:No, definitely. Oh, yeah, but yeah, obviously, from what I've read in the comments, it's a really good event. Like everybody who's been, well, everybody who commented who had been had been like, yeah, you know, this is one of the best vets I've been to, blah blah blah blah. So now everybody like me looking on from the outside, I'm like, oh well, I wanna go now.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, okay. So, but let me ask you this you you're there, you're trying to get in, you don't know those people, so you're not gonna get a ticket, and it's just because you're not gonna get it that you're not gonna go. How would you feel about that? Would you be like, oh well, next year again, or would you be like, well, F this shit?
SPEAKER_05:No, 100%. That's then you know what I'm like. I'll be like, yeah, but I don't do this anymore.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, exactly. So at some point, just this event is gonna have the same people in it every year because exactly they're gonna keep coming because they like it, and they're gonna keep getting the right tickets because they have the connections.
SPEAKER_04:Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, this is just if this is what the promoter wants, then that's fair play, that it works. But for me, it's also, you know, you want to have, let's say, fresh uh people in your events every year because you want to keep it going. Other people should also confirm, like, yeah, this this event is epic, this event is great. Like, I was at Limers, I can now attest that yes, that's a great event. You should go.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_01:What a vibe Limers was, by the way. Sorry, I'm just reminiscing now.
SPEAKER_05:The first one that we went to though, after that was a bit like it went downhill after COVID, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah, true. True, true, true, true.
SPEAKER_05:To the point, I'm not even doing Limers anymore. Forget that.
SPEAKER_01:Well, it saves you about you know it saves you about two days of trying to get a ticket, so that's something.
SPEAKER_05:And a hundred and what is it? 160 US as well. Well, 170. What with the eye?
SPEAKER_01:You just started a whole new topic. That's the other thing. So you're telling me that in order to be privileged to buy a ticket of 100 something dollars for an event, I also have to ask very nicely and send a resume. Excuse me? Nah. I will pay the money, but I won't just to pay the money and be done with it.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, exactly. It's the same in three and begging for tickets is long, like what the hell?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, uh, can I please pay$150,$180, please? No, here's the money. Give me a ticket, please. Yeah, man. You need a LinkedIn profile link or what?
SPEAKER_05:Oh, that is insane. Yo, I thought I'd want a twist. Please, sir!
SPEAKER_04:You know what I mean? A ticket!
SPEAKER_01:A ticket I need a picture of I actually need a video of your winning skills first. Oh, piss off. Luckily I have plenty of those videos, but I'm not gonna send them.
SPEAKER_05:Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Even though you're retirement, but you know, still uh videos of your glory days.
SPEAKER_01:My glory days. Oh, and I was young, like yeah, that was epic. Anyway, yeah, I I as clearly you can tell I'm a bit uh I have an opinion about this. And I I like it like what you said, it makes sense. I understand people do it, but I'm I'm hesitant to say that it's a good thing for you know organizing events. I I get it's a gimmick, a gimmick, but uh, you know, it's it's Maybe not for me. Let me put it that way.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, no.
SPEAKER_01:I'll still try it if I can, but you know, I'll get upset if I don't get it. Yeah. Yeah. Well guys, if if you have an opinion on this, if you think that I am too emotional and I should shut the F up, then also let us know, please. Feel free to comment. You know, 2026 is a new year, Charles. Um, out there. So tell me to my face what you think. I don't care.
SPEAKER_05:Oh god. Fair enough. I hear it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at soca underscore chronicles. Be sure to send us a message if you have an opinion. Also, if you have a topic to discuss or an artist to interview, let us know because we'll always be looking for those. Um speaking of interviews, we will have more interviews coming this year. Yeah. Um with all the things going on, uh, it was not possible to arrange for this episode. Yeah, there we go. But there will be more, so not to worry.
SPEAKER_05:There we go.
SPEAKER_01:But yeah, I have run out of things to discuss, Shines. So unless you have some more things. Is there I mean is there more brawling events uh scheduled for 2026, Shards?
SPEAKER_05:Oh yeah, I was literally about to talk about brawling. It's like you just went and read what was in my mind. Get out of my head!
SPEAKER_01:That's what I do.
SPEAKER_05:Oh god. Anyway, moving on swiftly. Brawling, guys. Brawling will be back in 2026. I've recently dropped the schedule for this year. Yeah, buddy. So the next event we are having is in April, and that will be our one-year anniversary as well. Damn, Daniel.
SPEAKER_01:Very nice.
SPEAKER_05:Yep, 18th of April. Excuse me, just had to clear my throat there, guys. 18th of April will be the first brawling of 2026. Then we will have the cropover send-off in July. And then, of course, we will have the independence jam in November, celebrating 60 years of independence, and I believe maybe the day after, or a couple days after, I will actually be flying to Barberas to celebrate 60 years. Hey, hey, hey, hey!
SPEAKER_01:Oh yeah, it is 60 years. Oh my goodness gracious me, and I'm missing that as well. I need to then just live off your feet again.
SPEAKER_05:As you do?
SPEAKER_01:You know, as I do since the last couple of years, that's fine. But it better be good quality reels, and I better hear some drama.
SPEAKER_05:I mean, I've always got drama though, bro.
SPEAKER_01:You know, this is this is facts. This is facts. Yeah, this is facts. That's fine. Yeah, I have no worries anymore.
SPEAKER_05:Literally, it's like, yep, I know Sean's is gonna have some drama for me. Like a lot of the drama, I just can't discuss it on this podcast because you know I can't tell you armor business, but yeah, you know, there's always some bloody drama. This is but yeah, there we go. So I'm I'm looking forward to 2026, man, for sure. And sounds of soca, bro. How have we not discussed that?
SPEAKER_01:Very true. So before we sign off, I do have to mention that the Dutch Soka scene is looking like it's rising from the ashes, like a Phoenix.
SPEAKER_05:We used to have Soka vs.
SPEAKER_01:Danso. Yeah, we used to have uh Soka vs Denso, um, the Soka event in the Netherlands. Uh obviously you had to pair with Dansel because otherwise nobody or they wouldn't sell out, I guess, or it wouldn't be commercially viable. Uh that ended last year, was it, or two years ago already?
SPEAKER_05:No, it was it was April 2025.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, April 2025, exactly. Yeah, true. So that ended, and you know, some small events popped up here and there, and there were some some boat fests. There was obviously uh Rotterdam Carnival as well with uh the usual events, so that's nice, but the recurring big big event there was lacking. And now, by the makers of Soca vs. Dansal, a new event is being launched, Sounds of Soka. 6th of March will be the inception of Sounds of Soka in Annabel, Rotterdam, for those people listening from the Netherlands. Um, it will be the first Soka event that I'll be trying to attend. Uh Shorz, have you booked your ticket already?
SPEAKER_05:I haven't, but don't worry, I'll be there.
SPEAKER_01:I'll be awesome. So the full Soka Chronicles cast will be there present to witness the reception of this uh yeah, to witness this first edition. Um, yeah, if you are in the area, let us know and uh we'll link up then. And I'll be sure to comment on it in the episode of March.
SPEAKER_05:For sure, for sure. So let's link up, guys. Even if you don't live in the Netherlands, just fly over. Let's just party, you know what I mean? But there is the following day, the 7th of March, uh Vaughan will be in London for his um jab decisions tour. Oh no. So I know a lot of people from the Netherlands will be in London, but that's fine. They can fly out like Saturday because this yeah, so the Saturday the 7th, they can fly in to London in the afternoon or even early evening or whatever, and then boom, because I think the event is like 11 pm until like 5am, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01:It's gotta be tricky though for a lot of people, and also that's gonna mean a lot of London fans will not be joining. But you know, I think I can manage, no worry.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, yeah, I'll be there for sure. Um, I don't I don't have any plans of going to jab decisions anyway. Because the the the price of them tickets, boy, I think they're like£50,£60 right now. I'm not paying that.
SPEAKER_01:He's a big boy, isn't he?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, so I'm just gonna stay in the Netherlands, mate. Yeah, yeah, come back to London on Sunday.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, make sure.
SPEAKER_05:You know what I mean? Yeah, or if the worst comes to the worst, let's say I somehow acquire a ticket, then I would just fly back Saturday afternoon, yeah, and I'm good to go.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you know, exactly.
SPEAKER_05:So but either way, people, Sharms will be in Rotterdam on the 6th of March.
SPEAKER_01:Ayy, and so will RKO, but he's always there. Anyway, guys, I think it is time to close off episode 53 of Soca Chronicles, the first episode of 2026. Thank you for listening. Uh, next month we'll be back, end of February, and it is time to listen to our regular dagger friend Supanitro before we go.
SPEAKER_00:Make sure you check out Soka 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 plentiful, 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_01:And with that, I am gonna wish you a great January. If you're going to train it in Tobago or Dominica, I am fully jealous on you guys. Uh it is what it is. Tell us how it is, and we'll be back with you at the end of February.
SPEAKER_05:So take care of yourself, guys. I hope 2026 is treating you well so far. And we will be back next month. Bye bye.
SPEAKER_01:Bye bye. You've been listening to the Soka Chronicles Chronicles.
