In Steppin’ out, I commented on who will fill the shoes of some of the biggest names in soca when they decide to hang up their microphones.  Perhaps artistes like Edwin Yearwood and Machel Montano won’t ever completely stop making music, but we all know there is a point where they no longer reign like they used to.  So we went through the men of soca, so now I’m commenting on the women.

Over the last decade we’ve seen the likes of Alison Hinds, Denise Belfon, and more recently Destra, take over as the women of soca.  Alison Hinds, of Barbados, was initially in Square One for close to fifteen years before she departed to form her own band.  She has brought us some of our favorite party tunes such as, “Iron Bazodee,” her version of Suriname’s, “Faluma,” and, “Togetherness.”  She jost recently made her comeback (after starting a family), with the popular song, “Roll.”  Alison Hinds is the original diva in soca, and it seems impossible for anyone to not compare any upcoming female artiste to her. 

Denise Belfon has been performing for quite some time as well, and is soca’s rude girl with her jaw-dropping wining routine.  Her songs are usually meant to get the girls dancing and show that woman is boss. Denise’s routine puts men at her mercy.  While she may not have as many songs as Alison Hinds, Denise has a string of hits like “Panic” and “Wine and Bend Over” that keep her one of soca’s top females.

Destra Garcia has been on the scene for a while, but in the last four years she has been consistent in bringing hot tunes.  Destra was first recognized with her song, “Tremble It,” while she was with Trinidad band, Roy Cape All-Stars.  Her songs, “It’s Carnival,” “Fly,” and this years, “Max It Up,” are highly rotated in soca fetes as well as radio shows.  “Bonnie & Clyde,” is used for Parrot Bay Rum commercials, reaching millions of viewers.  Destra has definitely proven herself as being one of the best in soca, whether as a female or simply an artiste. 

Fayanne Lyons, daughter of soca icon, Superblue, is another female from Trinidad that is making waves throughout the Caribbean.  Her sexy outfits, revealing a body jost women would die for, keep men at her attention.  Fayanne has proven she has inherited some of the talent her father had in his prime.  She can sing a sweet melody, or drop ragga soca lyrics that will entertain all types of soca lovers.  This years song with Ms Alysha, “Party,” is one of the top songs for the season.  She has also won Trinidad’s roadmarch with, “Display,” back in 2003. 

Fayanne and Destra are still young artistes and should be entertaining the crowds for some years to come.  In addition, Michelle Sylvester has been consistent in bringing hot tunes consistently over the last few years.  While her routine isn’t energetic as some others, she can write music, and is a favorite for women empowerment.  Check her songs such as, “Somebody’s Sleeping In Your Bed,” and, “Go Ahead.”  I’d expect to hear a lot more from Michelle in the coming years. 

Claudette Peters from Antigua has one of the stronger voices, and is one of the females I’d keep an eye on.  She is probably best known for her song, “Something’s Got A Hold On Me,” but has since been recording nice music with her current band, Taxik.  Check out her website at http://claudettepeters.com.  Outside of Barbados and Trinidad, female soca performers seldom recognized.  St. Lucia’s Nicole David is another talented female, though the distribution for the island makes it difficult for the music to reach other places.  She has previously won the roadmarch and the Soca Monarch competitions in St. Lucia.

There are so many talented females in the Caribbean, though like many soca artistes, getting the music out isn’t always easy.

Endnote: Congratulations to Fireman Hooper of St. Vincent for winning their Soca Monarch competition over the weekend.  Also, big up to Alpha in St. Lucia for copping the Soca Monarch crown there.  Both artistes defended their crowns and won in their respective islands.  I’m interested to see who takes the roadmarch title in both islands this week. That’s my time for the week, look out next week for CD reviews of new music for the summer.