00:00Excellent, this is EA Earth and Owls right now you're tuning to TV6, keep it lucky, it's a Carnival vibe, we keep it alive. Long time this a overdue, we get a thing in the back from the Lord a telling you, look TV6 streaming right there, TV6 streaming right there, excellent.
00:16Carnival 2026 may be a shortened season, but the debate around the future of soca is gaining momentum. Soca artist Irfan Owls says the genre's growth, particularly on the global stage, cannot depend solely on the Carnival period.
00:31Everyone wants soca music to reach global status, but we need to focus more light on the ways and means in which we should do so and I believe that is a relationship between the fan and the artist.
00:43The artist need to continue releasing music throughout the year to engage the fans, you know, give them something to believe in, give them something to buy into.
00:52So, he notes that attention traditionally peaks during Carnival, then quickly fades, a cycle he believes limits both artistic growth and economic opportunity.
01:07You know, we are the root, we are the source, we are the backbone of the genre, so if we are the producers and the creatives, we need to increase the output so that the people can now engage with us.
01:17Irfan argues that a year-round release strategy would also create space for promoters, venues and artists to earn beyond the seasonal window.
01:28I always say if you have a parlor that only opens January and February and somebody opens a grocery throughout the year, your parlor goes out of business.
01:35So we have to kind of have a global mindset if you really want to take the music to a global standard.
01:39That philosophy has shaped his approach to Carnival 2026, where he says he intentionally returned to the roots of his musical identity.
01:51Well, for the Carnival 2026 period, I have decided to tap into my background. Again, that was the title of the first song that I released. And it's a double meaning song, you know, paying homage to the ladies' background, of course.
02:06But at the same time, tapping into my background as a young Sook artist who would have had our bringing in the Calypso, Junior Monarchs and so on.
02:14And while known for energetic performances, Irfan says that lasting impact comes from songs that reflect lived experiences.
02:22If you listen to my songs like Overdue, Blazing Love, In Your Eyes, those are songs that speak of realistic issues, love, relationships.
02:39He believes that Sook's history as a storytelling medium should continue to guide its evolution.
02:44Nowabla, if you listen to Nowabla 10 years from now, you'll remember that's when we had an increase in the Venezuelan migrants.
02:51So, if we are like the Calypsoans, who used to be the poor man's newspaper, if we widen the scope of our topics, I believe that also will help in the activity where people can kind of engage and hold on to the music a longer period,
03:05rather than just, you know, making it about carnival or about effect. That's a very important part too. The topic would carry us through.
03:11Irfan points his own catalogue as evidence that Sook can extend beyond the carnival's calendar.
03:17So that's why I find like when a Sook artist sing a love song, it will kind of last longer. Overdue has over 25 million views.
03:25Actually, it's still today my most viewed, most streamed, most popular, most successful song. And I ain't say a word about Jump, Wave and Wine in that.
03:33That year-round mindset has also influenced his broader creative work, including live performance concepts designed to highlight musicianship and cultural expression.
03:45E-Day will be held on February 8th at the St. John's Ambulance Hall, featuring a full concert set by Irfan Owls and friends.
03:56E-Day was born out of the pandemic. When we could not have huge gatherings, I decided to do something East, West, North, South, Central, Trinidad and Tobago.
04:04In recent times, it ended up one in Trinidad, one in Tobago. And this year, we are only doing it in Trinidad. It's like a niche event where it's all about the Irfan Owls experience where people come into my space and engage with me on my journey, enjoy the music along with my Sook friends. Very cultural in its essence.
04:23As Carnival 2026 approaches, Irfan says his focus remains on sustainability, ensuring Sookka and the culture continues to grow, connect and endure well beyond the season.
04:36Long times are over you. Long times are over you.
04:41Alexander Brouswell, TV6 News.
04:44The
