"Every night I die and come back, at every single show in which I perform," Machel Montano said this morning at a news conference called to announce that he will defend his Soca Monarch crown, albeit for the final time.
He was, after all, trying to explain how much he puts into his performances, especially in 2015, which he described as "rough for soca artistes, it's been hard to get people off the ground with power soca."
The 2015 Groovy title will be up for grabs since Machel did not register, not forgetting that he was whipped last year, added to the fact that Kerwin Du Bois would not defend his crown.
"Competition is not so important this year. I am working on collaborating with many people to form proper partnerships and even mend old business relationships because we have a window to the world and must use it," he said.
"I guarantee that Soca will be one of the more popular genres in the world."
He further explained, "Competing in Soca Monarch is not a money making scenario for me. Sometimes, I spend all the prize money beforehand in putting together a performance."
"I will however encourage young people to compete, but it must be monitored and improved."
"The rule change (which frees up the winner from defending his crown) was a mature decision."
"A lot of damaged relationships and animosity is born because of competition as I have experienced it from Dimanche Gras to Soca Monarch, and all I want now is progress," Monk Monte, said.
"I don't want to be on a warpath with anyone and now we have a window we must unite as a force."
"I have been running this race since I was 9 years old and I don't want to stop," Machel said.
-Sharmain Baboolal
