分类： entertainment

Trinidadian-American artist Chereece ‘Rreecey’ Bernard, currently residing in New York City, has unveiled an ambitious musical trilogy for Carnival 2026, showcasing her evolution from calypso roots to contemporary soca expression. The 36-year-old singer-songwriter’s latest single ‘At Last,’ released November 17, captures the essence of Carnival’s liberating spirit, encouraging listeners to cast aside stress and negative energy during the festive season.

Rreecey’s musical journey, which began in primary school singing calypso, has expanded to include multiple genres while maintaining her Caribbean foundations. Her October release ‘Fever,’ penned by acclaimed songwriter Jason ‘Shaft’ Bishop, demonstrates her collaborative approach to music creation. A third upcoming collaboration with Devon ‘Dev’ Harris completes her 2026 Carnival trilogy.

The artist credits her musical development to influences including the late calypso legend Sandra ‘Singing Sandra’ Des Vignes and contemporary collaborator Eggy Dan. Despite the significant financial investment required to produce new music annually, Rreecey remains undeterred, having built a diverse discography that includes tracks like ‘Afrowhine,’ ‘Meh Head Bad,’ and ‘Pong It’ in recent years.

Looking beyond Carnival, Rreecey plans to explore reggae and dancehall genres while developing an all-female riddim project. Her primary aspiration for 2026 remains connecting with broader Trinidadian audiences and providing uplifting musical experiences during challenging times.

In a landmark development for Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival season, the National Action Cultural Committee (NACC) has unveiled 25 semifinalists for the prestigious 2026 Young Kings Calypso Monarch competition. This year marks the inaugural introduction of a semifinal round, a structural enhancement prompted by overwhelming participation that saw over 90 entrants during preliminary auditions.

NACC chairman Embau Moheni confirmed the historic expansion, emphasizing that the semifinal format is intended as a permanent fixture rather than a temporary measure. The selection process spanned multiple venues across the nation, with auditions conducted in Tobago on December 13, San Fernando on December 14, Republic Bank Exodus Pan Theatre on December 20, and Port of Spain’s Queen’s Park Savannah on December 21.

Moheni expressed particular enthusiasm about both the quantity and quality of this year’s submissions, noting exceptional artistic standards that signal positive evolution for the calypso art form. While remaining cautious about discussing specific sponsorship arrangements and prize money, he indicated that negotiations were ongoing despite historical challenges in this area.

Among the notable semifinalists are defending champion Anthony ‘Squeezy Rankin’ La Fleur, whose 2025 victory came with the crowd favorite ‘Justice’, and last year’s runner-up Kyle ‘KC’ Cowie, who returns with his composition ‘Wah We Fighting For’. The semifinal roster showcases diverse thematic approaches, from Oscar Benjamin’s technologically-themed ‘AI Versus Man’ to Sheldon Bullen and Nyol Manswell’s peace-oriented entries ‘A Call for Peace’ and ‘My Prayer for Peace’ respectively.

The competitive journey continues with a position draw scheduled for January 5 at the VIP Lounge of Queen’s Park Savannah Grand Stand, leading to the semifinal performances on January 18 at John Cupid Carnival Village. This expansion reflects both growing interest in traditional calypso music and the NACC’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent within Trinidad and Tobago’s rich cultural landscape.

Trinidadian-American musical collaborators Ron Metivier and Rhonda Rosales have embarked on an exciting new artistic journey with their inaugural soca release titled “Poison,” representing a significant evolution for their collaborative venture known as R and R Proj. Despite relocating to the United States in 2019, the duo maintains profound connections to their Trinidadian cultural heritage, which powerfully informs their creative expression.

Rosales, whose musical journey began at age five under the mentorship of her grandmother and uncle Anderson Rosales of G Sharp and Friends, brings extensive performance experience to the partnership. Her credentials include a 20-year tenure with parang ensemble Los Alumnos de San Juan, finalist status on Scouting for Talent, membership in Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), and performances at Kaiso House calypso tent (now D’Kaiso Dynasty). She has also served as lead vocalist for parang group Fuego Caribeño and performed internationally as a cultural ambassador alongside legendary artists including the late calypsonian Hawthorn “King Wellington” Quashie.

Metivier complements this vocal excellence with multi-instrumental mastery, specializing in cuatro, guitar, and bass while skillfully blending traditional Caribbean sounds with contemporary influences. His musical development began at age 13, earning early recognition through the Junior National Parang Association before becoming the youngest cuatro player in renowned band Salsa Picante under maestro Robert Munro’s guidance. His professional experience includes extensive performances across the Caribbean, North America, and Europe, plus directing and arranging for numerous cultural ensembles.

The collaborators describe “Poison” as an organic development born from their shared musical passion and creative synergy. While both artists have established reputations in parang, soca parang, and calypso genres, this release marks their deliberate entry into mainstream soca music. Metivier explains their motivation: “With our roots in the calypso tent and as proud Trinidadians, we wanted to make a strong contribution to the soca kingdom,” noting how the single captures Carnival’s passion, rhythm, and collective spirit.

Musically, “Poison” represents a fusion of styles shaped by Metivier’s instrumental versatility and Rosales’ commanding vocal presence. The recording benefited from Samuel Jack’s (Jhaqkmix) production expertise at New York’s Maddagain Production Studio, owned by Roger “Patch” Joseph. Despite its international production, the track maintains authentic Trinidadian roots according to the artists.

The duo’s collaborative dynamic leverages years of shared performance experience. Metivier describes their partnership as “a blend of voice and vision” where Rosales’ powerhouse vocals provide emotion and energy while his musical direction shapes sound and arrangement. This intimate creative exchange differs from his experience directing full bands, allowing constant idea exchange and co-creation.

For Rosales, the project represents both artistic growth and personal renewal: “Having spent years in parang and calypso, Poison feels like a fresh chapter for me. It’s a chance to grow as an artiste, try something new and honour my roots.” Early audience responses have been enthusiastically positive, with fans and fellow artists connecting with the track’s energy and vibe.

An animated music video is currently available on YouTube, with additional visual content planned for forthcoming release. The artists confirm this release merely begins their creative journey, promising more original music that blends genres, experiments with rhythms, and celebrates Caribbean cultural richness while honoring musical traditions. Their vision aims to inspire regional creativity and reach global audiences through evolutionary musical exploration.

Trinidadian-American musical collaborators Ron Metivier and Rhonda Rosales have officially entered the soca music scene with their debut single “Poison,” marking a significant evolution in their artistic partnership under the banner R and R Proj. The US-based performers, who migrated from Trinidad in 2019, have channeled their deep cultural roots into this vibrant musical offering that represents their first dedicated foray into the soca genre despite established careers in parang and calypso.

Rosales brings extensive vocal expertise developed through decades of performance, beginning with childhood guidance from her grandmother and uncle Anderson Rosales of G Sharp and Friends. Her distinguished background includes a 20-year tenure with parang group Los Alumnos de San Juan, membership in TUCO, performances at Kaiso House calypso tent, and vocal leadership with Fuego Caribeño. She has performed internationally as a cultural ambassador alongside legendary figures including the late calypsonian Hawthorn “King Wellington” Quashie.

Metivier contributes multi-instrumental mastery, particularly on cuatro, guitar, and bass, blending traditional Caribbean sounds with contemporary influences. His musical journey began at age 13, leading to his recognition as the youngest cuatro player with renowned band Salsa Picante under maestro Robert Munro. With extensive performance experience across the Caribbean, North America, and Europe, Metivier has directed and arranged for numerous cultural ensembles and co-founded entertainment group Team Regal Entertainment.

The collaboration emerged naturally from their shared creative vision, with “Poison” representing a deliberate expansion into soca music. “With our roots in the calypso tent and as proud Trinidadians, we wanted to make a strong contribution to the soca kingdom,” Metivier explained. The track embodies Carnival’s passion, rhythm, and collective spirit through a fusion of Metivier’s instrumental versatility and Rosales’ commanding vocal presence.

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Samuel Jack (Jhaqkmix) at Maddagain Production Studio in New York, owned by Roger “Patch” Joseph, the recording maintains authentic Trinidadian spirit despite its international production. The artists describe Jack’s contribution as transformative, helping realize their vision into a vibrant, fully-formed sound.

An animated music video is currently available on YouTube, with additional visual content promised soon. The duo confirms this release signals the beginning of ongoing musical exploration, with more original works planned that will continue blending genres, experimenting with rhythms, and celebrating Caribbean cultural richness while honoring musical traditions.