Yes, Soca Monarch in 2021 is on! But the competition will be rebranded as ‘The Monarch’ and since there is no official carnival 2021, the National Carnival Committee (NCC) will not be recognising any winner for any events in an official capacity.

However, as expected due to Covid-19, there will be some structural changes implemented as shared by the Creative Director of the International Soca Monarch (ISM), Simon Baptiste recently. These changes include the following:

• Artistes from anywhere can ‘Enter’ the competition, however they ‘Must be’ physically in Trinidad and Tobago to participate. With the borders presently closed, persons wishing to enter will have to apply for an exemption to do so.
• There will be NO semi-finals rounds this year.
• Soca Monarch is carded to take place on Friday 12^th February 2021, Carnival Friday and will be broadcasted regionally via TV6 and another platform (still to be announced).
• This year soca monarch will be a combination of live and pre-recorded performances.
• To enter, all Artistes are required to submit their songs via the ISM website from Friday 22nd January, 2021. The top (10) finalists will be selected and proceed to the finals where only ONE Monarch winner will be crowned.
• The Prize money is still being finalized and will be announced at a later date.
• It has not yet been confirmed if the reigning 2020 Groovy Soca Monarch- College Boy Jesse and Power Soca Monarch Winners- Iwer George and Kes, will be participating or defending their titles in this year’s instalment of the competition.

 

 

So, let us know how you are feeling about the recent soca monarch announcement and will you be supporting or tuning in this year?

 

References:

https://newsday.co.tt,

http://www.looptt.com

 

Hashtags: #InternationalSocaMonarch #SocaMonarch2021 #Carnval2021 #GroovySoca #PowerSoca #TrinidadandTobago