This year’s Junior Monarch semi-finals could be an exciting showdown as eight newcomers, four in calypso and three in soca, are among the 24 contenders aiming for a place in finals.
With the 2023 and 2024 monarch Sakarah Sakarah Thomas ageing out of the competition, eight young calypsonians will be selected by the judges for the big showdown expected to be held in July.
And in the soca category, 11 budding artistes will be vying for one of the seven spots in the finals where they will meet 2024 monarch Kymani Mr Showman Devonish, who wowed the judges with his performance of Ready if he is defending his title. If he is not, eight will go forward to the finals.
This year’s semi-finalists were announced in a press release issued by the National Cultural Foundation earlier this week following preliminary judging held last Saturday and Sunday at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre.
The new faces in the calypso category are Chelsea Ms Ellis Ellis, (It Starts With De Family), Damario D Whiz Kid Foster (Voices Of Change), Kajae-Ashton Master Kajae Holder (Send A Helping Hand) and Tatianna Tatianna Grandison (Mental Illness).
They will be on stage with 2024 finalists Kadarius King K Allen, who placed second, Kenaz Bit Bit Walker who came third, and Relissa N’Kyla Mitchum who was fourth, singing Fake It Til You Make, No Sympathy, and Respect Yuhself, respectively.
The reserve in the 2024 calypso category Sabiah Sabiah Gaskin is in again with Barbados Too Sweet and Jade Leilani Roach, who debuted last year in the soca competition and made it to the finals, has switched genres. Consequences is the name of her calypso.
Three 2024 semi-finalists are also among this year’s contenders. Rashonna Shonna B Browne, who made her Junior Monarch debut in her first outing, is singing Meet The Parents. Alyssa Queen A Cumberbatch and Rimiya Majestic Miya Wilson, both in their third season, are singing Crime and Unsung Heroes, respectively, while 2023 calypso finalist Alyssa Slay Harris has returned with Hurt.
The reserve is Charity Charity Murrell, who made her debut in the calypso category last year. Her song is entitled Monkey See, Monkey Do.
The high energy soca contest should be a keen one as some of last year’s finalists and semi-finalists were selected as well as 2024 calypso finalist Khalijah Khaleesi Kellman, who has switched genres. Her song is We On A Mission.
Soca Blessing is the title of last year’s second place finisher Kari-Anne Kari Holford-Sam and Jazarie Zarie B Belgrave, who placed third, is doing Celebrating Life. The other two finalists are Ranesha Ranesha Stewart (Thunder) who is in her third year of the competition and Jayden JAYDEN INNISS who returned last year. His song is titled Ah Too Blessed.
The two 2024 semi-finalists in this category are Joshua JoshOx Oxley (Heating Up) and Talisia Talisia Mottley (Gathering In Unity). Oxley was a 2023 finalist and Mottley made her debut last year with Put Down De Guns.
Anatasia NIARA Callender (We Have It), Avery AJ Carter (Capture This Energy) and Kamara Mara Phillips-Carter (Look How We Watching You) are the three other newcomers this year. LeAndre Andre Headley-Clarke is returning to Junior Monarch with Summer Vibes. He last competed under the sobriquet LeAndre in the 6 to-10 age category back in 2019 while a student at Charles F. Broome.
There is no reserve in this category.
Although no dates or venues have been announced publicly for the Junior Monarch tents which provide a platform for the semi-finalists to perform before they face the judges, the official entry form states they will be held on June 14 and 21. (GBM)
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