As the annual Spicemas carnival season gets underway in Carriacou, Grenada, one local artist is turning seasonal celebration into a year-round artistic mission. Shirlan George, known professionally as Skinny Banton, has launched seven brand new singles in 2026, bringing his signature high energy, upbeat vibe and narrative songwriting to audiences gearing up for another iconic Spicemas experience.
For the acclaimed soca artist, Grenada’s one-of-a-kind Jab culture serves as the core inspiration for his work. Previous hits including *Soak It Good* and *Wrong Again* earned him widespread recognition across the Caribbean and global soca audiences, and this season his highly anticipated *The Jambalasse* project stands out as one of his most culturally significant releases to date. The project centers on a revamped version of *Jambalasse Rule*, a 1991 track from Moss International widely regarded as one of Grenada’s first original Jab Jab songs.
“With this project, we’re working to preserve the history while celebrating the present day,” Banton explained. Updating the original track’s riddim, the artist aims to shine a global spotlight on his country’s authentic cultural heritage, carrying that mission with him on every stage and every release. Banton emphasized his commitment to keeping Grenada’s traditional cultural practices alive, noting that he understands his unique role as an artist in advancing that work. “No matter what challenges we face as artists in this space, we stay true to our mission,” he said. Beyond Spicemas, he already has plans to share fan-favorite track *Pain* with audiences at Trinidad and Tobago’s 2027 Carnival.
Beyond his solo work, Banton has made supporting emerging talent a core part of his 2026 release slate. His new tracks include collaborative cuts: *Carnival Traffic* features Jamaican artist I Octane, *My Behaviour* pairs him with rising star Tonic X, and *Water Line Burst* was created alongside up-and-comer Nicki Akull. Banton says collaborating with emerging artists holds personal meaning: when he was an up-and-coming artist himself, breaking through and connecting with established names felt nearly impossible, a daunting experience he has not forgotten.
That experience drives his commitment to lifting the next generation of Caribbean entertainers. “Nobody takes you seriously when you don’t have a foot in the door — they refuse to embrace you because you are not known,” he said. “This was just my way of giving them strength and encouragement. I want them to keep pushing after this.” The other three tracks in Banton’s 2026 release slate are *When Yuh Eating*, *Right Up*, and *Black Fuh Juvay*.
The artist is moving full steam ahead with promotional plans for the new releases, with music videos already completed and uploaded for *Black Fuh Juvay* and *My Behaviour*. For *Water Line Burst*, the collaboration with Akull came together after three years of consistent outreach from the young artist, with Banton saying Akull’s persistence and dedication ultimately brought the track to life. Even with seven new tracks out, Banton shows no signs of slowing down: he is actively seeking new collaborations with artists across the Caribbean diaspora, and aims to expand his footprint in the global soca community.
Navigating the modern music industry’s shift toward social media, Banton shared thoughtful perspective on balancing online promotion with artistic integrity. As more artists prioritize viral social content over substantive songcraft, he warns that good music should be able to stand on its own, regardless of promotional content. “Content creation online should not take away from artists creating and delivering great music, because without the content, the music should still stand on its own, and with the content, the people still need the music,” he argued.
He noted that many viral trends today stem from artists cultivating an online persona rather than releasing lasting, substantive music: artists may earn quick attention for outrageous posts, but the songs themselves often lack the substance to maintain long-term relevance. For young artists just starting out, Banton offered encouraging advice: stay focused on your craft, ignore online naysayers, and build a business model that works for your unique artistic path, since every artist’s journey looks different.
Widely recognized as a thoughtful, intentional and immensely talented voice in the Caribbean creative scene, Banton closed by thanking the fanbase and industry partners that have supported his career. “People who’ve been supporting from day one and continue to support, as well as the new supporters I’ve gotten along the way — thank you,” he said. “To the DJs and radio personalities, I appreciate you. One hand doesn’t clap. Thank you for keeping my songs on rotation, and I hope you all continue to support me.”
