Trinidad & Tobago Elevates Steelpan to National Instrument Status

Trinidad & Tobago Elevates Steelpan

In a resounding tribute to cultural heritage and musical innovation, Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament has officially designated the steelpan as the national musical instrument. This landmark decision not only celebrates the steelpan’s significant contribution to national identity but also acknowledges its global influence, making Trinbagonians worldwide beam with pride. Legislative Milestone On Wednesday, July 3, […]

Nailah’s tribute to Steel Pan Legend Ken “Professor” Philmore

Ken “Professor” Philmore was a talented pannist, arranger, and composer from Trinidad and Tobago, the home of the steel pan. He was a pioneer of major proportions and he left a rich legacy in the wake of his death, on 30th September 2018. Steel Pan Inspiration Hailing from South Trinidad, he first played with Hatters, moved […]

Dominic Hosein shares 5 Soca songs for 2019

Dominic is a lover of Soca and Trinidad and Tobago’s culture in all forms. He’s an Instructor in Communications at University of Trinidad and Tobago in San Fernando. —– Can you feel the beat! Oh, soca music how I love thee. This year, like last year, there was no shortage of fabulous music. The riddims, […]

Machel Lauds Soca’s Global Appeal

How big is the Soca Kingdom?* It’s Machel Monday, and a trending topic is The King of Soca, Machel Montano’s bold declaration that Soca is the “music of the Caribbean.” We are not aiming to get into a disagreement with our Jamaican breathren and sistren – we just ask them to take The Monk’s word […]

Keishaun Julien – Tobago’s Steelpan Icon

Keishaun Julien is an icon in the making. Known for his ever-so-often viral steelpan videos on social media, Keishaun hails from the beautiful isle of Tobago. At 21 years old, Mr. Julien has established his brand and continues to grow as a household name in the steelpan fraternity. Mr. Julien was introduced to the steelpan at age […]

[VIDEO] Despacito – The Trini Christmas Parang remix

Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’ broke the Internet in 2017! From Major Lazer and MOSKA’s EDM version to the debatably hilarious I Wear Speedos remix, this song invaded our radios for the majority of the year and spewed a slew of remakes. Very much like salt, Trinis were sure to get in on the action. Check out the beautiful and […]

Kees Prepares to Release New Album…Sans Dreadlocks!

Soca star and lead singer of Kes the Band, Kees Differenthaller has parted ways with his signature dreadlocks. The singer shocked his fans when his new look was revealed on the band’s Instagram page @kesthebandofficial last Tuesday. After growing his hair for 16 years, the singer said, “It was time to start fresh.” The band […]

The Steelpan – From Our Small Island To The Middle East

Have we dropped the ball in promoting the steelpan on a global scale? Do you think it is appreciated more by other countries? What we know… Caribbean Vybez International is an entertainment company based in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).  For more than 7 years, they have been a pioneer in promoting Caribbean culture in […]