Juniors rule Soca stage

Fifteen contestants took to the stage to vie for the first-ever Junior Soca Monarch title. It was a ding-dong battle, especially between those eventually named as the Top 5.

At the end of the night, Dynamo emerged the winner of the historic competition. Demiko 3D Newton placed second while Tariq Reckon Drums Ellis copped third place. Fourth was Don-Ross Ross Oliver and fifth place went to Sephon Lil Stathis Sealy.

The inaugural event, staged last Saturday at Ball Park Entertainment before a lively and receptive audience, showcased some top talent.

All the contestants gave a good showing of themselves. However, it was clear that those named in the Top 5 were the ones with more stage experience, better vocals and captivating performances.

The seasoned young artiste, Dynamo, real name Asher Murrell, who is a former Junior Monarch, won the hearts of the judges and the audience alike with his energetic and powerful rendition of Bring Dem Back. The song, which was written by himself and his dad BillBoard Murrell, begs writers and singers to bring back the standards, morals and values.

The song is melodically sweet with strong lyrical content. The 18-year-old, who was the final contestant, amassed 375 points. Even a minor hiccup of a wardrobe malfunction was not enough to stop Dynamo from owning the night by commanding the stage and taking charge of the audience.

3D took second place with 352 points singing Alive, which was written by his mom Tamika Newton and Billboard Murrell. His smooth, sweet vocals were accompanied by a colourful spectacle in his presentation. His was the most visually appealing presentation of the night. Dressed in a red, short pants suit, with a red bandana tied around his head, it was clear 3D came to party. 3D is no stranger to the stage, having been named a semifinalist in the Junior Monarch and placing third in the 2019 Barbados Talented Teens Pageant.

Reckon Drums, who performed at No.3, stayed right there. He placed third with 351 points, singing his De Way How Yuh Wine. The 17-year-old produced and arranged his song. But music runs in his genes as his dad is Tito Ellis, a longstanding member of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band (RBPFB) and top drummer with multiple bands. Reckon Drums gave a nice and groovy rendition which showcased his vocal prowess. His was a true party song with a simple but effective presentation.

Ross, who placed fourth with 334 points, gave an explosive, high-energy performance that was worthy of In This Together being included on any competition stage, even among the seniors. The song was written and arranged by his dad, Russell Oliver, who is a veteran entertainer performing under the name Richard Antonio. His mum is entertainer Donella. No wonder then that the 18-year-old ensured that he made himself a top contender for the coveted title. His song was the most musically strong song in the competition, with many variations. It also won the Best Nation Building Song award.

Ross brought a different type of energy to the stage which showed that he was way more comfortable in this competition than the traditional Junior Monarch which he has competed in before. Bajan Vibes had Ross placing much higher, but as always the judges’ decision is final.

Ironically, performing at position No. 10, 10-year-old Lil Stathis lifted the bar in the second half and got the party going. The youngest in the Top 5, he was full of energy and worked the stage well. Singing Put Down De Gun which was written by his dad, Steven Stathis Sealy, and produced by King Wole, he has grown vocally since his first single Go School and Learn hit on Facebook. The topical song has a great arrangement. Lil Stathis placed fifth with 319 points. Kudos to Lil Stathis as one of the youngest and smaller contestants who showed his worth in the field of Top 5 contenders who had more experience and years on him.

Other contestants were Casey Jemmott-Boyce (KCB), Jasmine Clarke and Fantasia Persaud (Take 2), Jayden Inniss (DJ), Naheem Wahid, Ranesha Stuart, Kereesa Chase, Kiah Shurland (Tanya Star), Shamera Denisha King-Charles, Sarah Laboyrie and Latrell Edwards.

Speaking on the sidelines, Minister in the Ministry of Culture and National Development John King said the competition was “awesome and excellent”.

“This is the first time in a very long time I have seen so much diversity in terms of how people approach the music. For me, that is the most important thing. This shows what can be accomplished when the players in the creative sector come together and do things privately,” he said.

Among the audience were Alison Hinds, Natahlee Burke, Khiomal Nurse, King Bubba, Statement, Troy Special, Coopa Dan and Mac Fingall. Event coordinator Chrystal Cummins-Beckles Holder must be highly commended for staging what could only be described as a top-notch competition.

Competitors were judged on melody, rendition, lyrics, arrangement performance and crowd response. The judges were Anderson Mr Blood Armstrong, Antonio Just D Johnson, Nikita Herbert and Michael Mikey Mercer.