The Monarch as it is being called replaces the International Soca Monarch and will crown an official Soca Monarch for Trinidad and Tobago for 2021. This may become a trend and just maybe there will be funding for such a competition when carnival takes its place as medical specialists across the globe cope with and control covid spread.
This is not just a competition in name only, there is meat in the package; singers are coming with new songs even though carnival is a nonstarter this year.
There is value for the artists competing this year; there will be prize money amounting to TT $300,000. It is interesting to note that neither Iwer George and Kees Dieffentaller (winners of ISM Power category 2020), and College Boy Jesse (winner of the Groovy category 2020) are in the mix for "The Monarch" will be participants in this competition. It is unique, but will not feature defending champions. It is "The Monarch" not the International Soca Monarch. It is limited to Trinidad and Tobago nationals. The show will take place on Friday, February 12, and will be aired on what should have been Carnival Saturday, February 13, 2021.
We wish all the artists success and, hopefully, the format chosen for the competition will garner subscribers to the show on Friday. The singers will perform with a live band with added props and a limited audience. The venue is the National Academy for Performing Artis, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The live feed will be carried by CCN TV6!
The finalists for "The Monarch" is as follows:
• Aaron Duncan
• Blaxx
• Farmer Nappy
• Melly Rose
• Olatunji
• Preedy
• Rome
• Trinidad Ghost
• Trinidad Killa
• Turner
• Viking Ding Dong and Mical Teja