WITH the festivities of the 2015 Carib Soca Monarch looming just ahead, folks at ANSA Mc AL have declared the lucky eighteen shortlisted for this year’s competition.

Thirty-two persons entered to contest the 11th annual CARIB SOCA MONARCH competition, which was first hosted in 2004, but the 18 chosen as semi-finalists have met the criteria of requirements based on the lyrics, diction, originality, rendition and musical arrangement. These 18 vibrant artistes are promising that the competition would be feisty, as they plan to raise the bar for Soca music in Guyana by way of thrilling performances and lyrical sensation.

The Semi-finals are scheduled for January 31st, 2015 at New Amsterdam, Berbice; and the Finals are set for February 14th, 2015 at the National Park in Georgetown.

The CARIB SOCA Monarch champion stands to win $1.5M; the second placed winner would collect $500,000, while the third placed winner would receive $250,000.

Below are the names of the lucky contestants, their singing names and their song entries.