GUYANA’s three-time Road March Queen, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts of Kross Kolor  Recording Studios, has been nominated in the 11th Annual International Soca Awards in the category of Best New Female Artiste of the Year.

Vanilla, as she is more popularly known, has been the  dominant female Soca artiste here in Guyana, and as such is the only Guyanese performer to have been nominated this year. She’s the third Guyanese artiste to have ever been selected, with reigning Road March King Adrian Dutchin and songstress Celeste David being past nominees.
She is one of six nominees in the category, going up against nominees from Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia and St. Kitts with her song ‘Piece Ah Me’, which was released last year and produced by Burchmore Simon of Kross Kolor Records and Andy Armstrong of Barbados.
This year, the award ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Spice Basket Beaulieu in Grenada on August 6, 2013.
The Soca Awards Organization (SAO) was founded in 2003 by Trinidad native entrepreneur Mr. Colin ‘CJ’ Jackman, and was created to bring recognition to the soca and calypso genres. The first award ceremony was held in 2003, and by 2006, it was registered and trademarked as the International Soca Awards (ISA). Over the years it has rewarded many who have continually worked or who have made a difference by their content, imagination, and, in particular, have made tremendous advancement for the arts. Calypso greats such as the Mighty Sparrow and Arrow have received such honours.
The awards are now being promoted around the world as the ‘Premiere Event of the Soca Music Industry’ which is not only limited to the Caribbean but includes all soca entertainers that are actively producing music.
The ISA is the Caribbean’s equivalent of the Grammy, Hip Hop, MTV and BET Awards, and this year it is said to be the biggest yet, featuring thirty-four (34) categories, including five new ones. Amongst the nominees are Barbados international superstar and Grammy award winner Rihanna, Wyclef Jean, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and ISA nominated Def Jam recording artiste Trinidad James.
Topping the awards-listed nominees for 2013 with nine nominations is T&T power and groovy soca monarch Machel Montano, with Lil Rick, Bunji Garlin, Destra and Rikki Jai receiving four nominations each.
Voting ends on August 2nd. Guyana, let’s rally around and vote VANILLA for Best New Soca Artiste of The Year.  http://www.socaawards.com/vote.  Remember to vote in all the categories in order for your vote to be counted.