-Osei gets Calypso Monarch crown; Vinel reigns supreme in junior Soca, Chutney

OSEI Clarke and Vinel Hinds, both ‘products’ of Kross Kolor Records led by the respected Burchmore Simon, are still basking in the pride and excitement consequent upon their wins in this year’s Calypso Monarch and Junior Soca and Chutney Monarch competitions at Linden and Lethem respectively.

Osei participated in all three competitions, this being the second time he competed in the ‘senior’ category of the competitions. Copping first in Calypso and second in Soca this year, he placed third and got the ‘Best Newcomer’ title across all three competitions last year.

It’s been just about three years now that the 22-year-old entertainer has been taking his music seriously and he’s quite proud of his achievements so far. “I won the Junior Soca Monarch twice; I won the Junior Calypso Monarch also, so this is my first senior win. I am still kind of lost for words,” he told Buzz this week.

The Calypso competition was held on February 16 at Lethem, while the Soca competition was held at Linden.

Osei had confidence in his song and abilities, but still, when his name was announced as winner, feelings of shock engulfed him. “I knew I would have gotten a place but when I heard the fourth place and second place were gone, I thought its either I get the crown or nothing at all.”

Vinel, on the other hand, won in the junior segment of the competitions, this being her third year of participation. “It was an emotional moment for me,” she expressed, adding, “I was also being recognised as the first woman who got a double crown, so I felt proud of myself.”

Capturing the titles of Junior Calypso Monarch and Junior Soca Monarch, Vinel is proud that since she started competing in 2022, she has won in each competition so far.

As the reigning Junior Soca Monarch of Guyana, she went into this year’s competition all set to defend her title, and defend it she did.
The 20-year-old has been singing since age five and her mom, a karaoke singer, did a lot to inspire her career in music.

Having decided to join the competition in 2022, Vinel took away the title of Junior Calypso Monarch, got third place in Soca, and ‘Best Newcomer’ in both categories. Then, in 2023, she captured the title of Junior Soca Monarch.

It’s her last year in the junior competitions because of her age. “From next year, I am going to transfer [to] the seniors, with the big dogs,” she had joked in a previous interview.

She had also served as a back-up singer for Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts in other competitions and Roberts has been a great help in her securing wins in the various singing competitions.