FOR 33 years, soca titan Machel Montano has built a reputation for himself with six wins from the international Soca Monarch competition in a genre of music native to Trinidad & Tobago. But Montano told reporters Tuesday at Boisserre House, Port-of-Spain that 2015 will be his last year contesting the Soca Monarchy.Montano has won four Power Soca titles from 2011 to 2014 for “Advantage”, “Pump yuh flag”, “Float”, and the most recent “Ministry of Road”. He also copped two consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013 for “Mr. Fete”, and “The Fog.”

“I’ve been running since I was nine… So Monday will be my big show; Machel Monday will be my focus,” the ‘Ministry of Road’ singer told reporters, explaining that his decision came from what he said was a dissatisfaction with the current feuds that have gripped the soca industry.

“Machel Monday” is the brainchild of the soca star. The event is celebrated annually just before the finals of the international Soca Monarch competition and has featured the likes of Grammy Award Winner, Pitbull, a cost which Montano said falls on himself.

Pushing the point of how ‘in control’ he is of his future, Montano said, “I could come here today and tell allyuh a decision; and tomorrow I could change my mind. I am the happiest man alive, only because I wake up every morning and I choose to be happy. That’s the best thing we were granted; free will.”

Montano called for a spirit of progress in the industry and bemoaned the conflicts that have become the new normal. “I’m not about competition, I’m about cooperation… I want progress, I want us to become First World and I want us to move away from that.”
Montano made a call to those in the industry to hold out on the tensions because he believes “it is time for us to unite, not fight, [adding] I don’t really want to be on the war path with anybody anymore, I believe this is the small window we have to come back around to soca time.”

While explaining the burdening economic cost of participating in Trinidad’s Soca Monarch where he said planning the performance sometimes costs more than the prize money, Montano encouraged youths to nonetheless become part of the industry and make a name for themselves.

Montano is no stranger to Guyana, and has headlined many shows without disappointment, but the 2014 Power Soca Monarch said he will not stop releasing music. “I am releasing a song every two days.” The artiste said he released two songs on Monday, and will be releasing two more on Wednesday.

“I am using Carnival as a platform to put out music I feel will influence the World and go beyond Carnival. I’m not putting out music to win Road March. I am not putting out music to win Groovy, I done miss that,” Montano said as he confirmed that he will neither participate in the Groovy nor Power categories of the competition.

“I am exercising my creativity in every living moment and expanding the limits of my mind trying to put us in the forefront of the industry.”
Montano closed by saying that he will be defending his 2014 Soca Monarch title at Fantastic Friday for the last time. “On Fantastic Friday, I Machel Montano will be defending my crown, I am going to dedicate my life after that.”

‘Fantastic Friday’ in the twin island republic is the final Friday before Carnival, this Friday is also shared with the finals of the international Soca Monarch competition.

(By Derwayne Wills in Trinidad)