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Caribbean Life, April 21-27, 2022
Tropicalfete to feature ‘King of Soca’ I-Octane ‘So Sorry’
underscoring the importance of
literacy and indigenous cultural
identities in expanding education
and life perspectives.
“The Authors Connecting Program
is designed for all ages,
and consists of interviews and
workshop sessions with authors
reading from their works,” Aimable
said.
The 2022 edition of the program
will commence on June 1
at the Brooklyn Public Library,
Main Branch.
Set for release in mid-June
as the debut publication from
Lady’s EESM Publishers imprint,
Aimable said “’King of Soca’ is a
comprehensive record of Machel’s
extraordinary 40-year career,
which, according to the former
‘momager’, is not well known,
particularly among the youth of
his native Trinidad and Tobago.”
An educator by training, Aimable
said Lady Montano based
“King of Soca” on her 2018 Master
of Philosophy dissertation,
“The Making of Monk Monte:
Creativity and Commodification
in Trinidad and Tobago Popular
Culture.”
Aimable said Lady Montano
initially planned to build on her
dissertation and work towards
a Ph. D but decided against the
academic route because she
wanted her writing to be accessible
to anyone interested in knowing
more about the soca titan.
“I am very conscious of
Machel’s continuous transformation
and the extent to which
he has opened my mind about
inclusion,” she said. “While it is
said that you must work with a
set target audience, or a specific
niche or population in mind for
your product, I am satisfied that
this work will deliver an authentic,
revelatory, impactful account
of my son’s life in music to anyone
open to receiving it.”
Aimable said 40 years in any
industry is “significant, but it is
a particularly remarkable in the
music business, and even more
so in the Caribbean, specifically
in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Apart from Lady’s attentiveness
to legacy-building, there
is, for her, a sense of urgency
in sharing the first 40 years
of Machel’s story now,” he said.
“She sees this 40th year milestone
as marking ‘the end of an
era, and the beginning of a new
one that is still taking form.’”
“Celebrating 40 years in music
is unbelievable for me and to
have a book chronicling this
journey was something I didn’t
imagine in my wildest dreams,”
said Machel, 47, about the book’s
2022 release.
In recognition of Lady’s unique
place in this project he added: “I
am honored that it’s happening
and truly excited for this story
to be told by the one person who
knows me best.
“My mother and I have been so
closely connected on every twist
and turn of this remarkable ride
that I know her account will be
quite vivid and an inspiration to
all,” he continued. “Thank you,
my ‘Lady’ – the best mother,
manager and friend.”
The official launch of the
“King of Soca” biography is
scheduled to take place in Trinidad
and Tobago in June, one
of several initiatives planned to
commemorate Machel Montano’s
40th anniversary in music.
Pre-orders for “King of Soca”
will soon be open to the public.
Interested parties are encouraged
to follow @kingofsoca
across Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter for regular updates, or
email eesm@kingofsoca.com for
more information.
Out.”
Driven said Brooklyn Fashion
week showcased NYC’s “top influencers,”
such as Rapper Phresher,
OT9beno, Official Gino, Etherdaconnect,
and Ceaser from Black
Ink, Wesly of Zamni Restaurant,
to name a few.
“The non-profit BK Style Foundation
has nurtured the Brooklyn
style and designed ecosystem
since 2006, and, 16 years later,
Fashion Week Brooklyn continues
to bridge fashion and the community,”
she added.
“Fashion Week Brooklyn
brought back the essence of fashion
night out,” continued Driven,
stating that on April 8, BK|Style
presented “Denim Night Out.”
Driven said Brooklyn Fashion
week showcased NYC’s “top influencers,”
such as Rapper Phresher,
OT9beno, Official Gino, Etherdaconnect,
and Ceaser from Black
Ink, Wesly of Zamni Restaurant,
to name a few.
Sponsors included Lilly Burst,
Tiki Rum Punch, Alegendz, Okaigo
& Dark Kiss Aroma candles.
“Keep in touch for our next
installment of Fashion Week
Brooklyn, powered by Playbook-
MG, slated for October 2022,”
Driven urged.
Continued from Page 27
Rapper Phresher. Chris Claxton
Continued from Page 27 I-Octane said. “When you’re in the
fast lane, you often overlook many
things and people. So, this song,
‘Sorry’, helps me to speak my truth
and also hopefully inspire and help
others to look into themselves.
“Because of my ego, I have done
a lot of wrongs along the way, but
it’s never too late to find yourself
as a person,” he added. “Every
time I hear this song, ‘Sorry,’ it
moves something inside my soul,
because of how deep and real it
is for me.
“The video was hard for me
to shoot, because I had to relive
certain moments and bring all
these emotions to life,” I-Octane
continued. “The song and video
were a therapy for me, and I hope
it impact others the same.”
“So Sorry” gives an insight into
Octane’s “I am Great” latest musical
journey.
The melodious soundtrack
delivers topics that run the spectrum
of social commentary, inspirational
themes, candid truths,
love, fondness and affection – all
written by the artist himself, with
the exception of
“Give Thanks”, “Change My
Life”, “Just Life” and “Self Made”
co-written by Ashiek Muir and
Rygin King on the collab “Paranoid”
track.
“Just like the rest of the world,
this past few years has been about
self-reflection,” I-Octane said.
“Having to be still for someone like
me was harder than one would
think.
“I am so used to traveling shows
to shows, country to country, but
with the pandemic I had to stand
still with myself,” he added. “Time
alone made me put pen to paper
and just let everything out. From
what’s going on in the world, to
what’s going on in my soul. I
always write about life, but this
was more in-depth.”
Continued from Page 27
‘DENIM NIGHT OUT’ IN BROOKLYN
Rapper Mr. Chicken and BKFW Rick Davy. Chris Claxton
Jamaican recording artist IOctane.
PlaybookMG/Marie Driven
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