00:00One of Soka music's most energetic performers is returning to the carnival space with a
00:05packed slate of new music for the 2026 season.
00:08Kevin Williams, better known as Waddix, says this year is about volume, versatility and
00:14staying true to the culture that shaped him.
00:17TV6 News caught up with the entertainer as he reflected on his releases, his role in
00:22Soka and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
00:26With six new songs already released this season, Waddix is keeping busy, offering music for
00:31different moods and moments as Carnival 2026 approaches.
00:36I have Love Steam Bad, Simple Man, Nasty Ways, Count Me Out, Rum Letter and of course, you know,
00:50We Love Steam Bad is on the menu.
00:54the music is a collaborative process, one that blends personal songwriting with contributions
01:00from some of the industry's most recognized writers and producers.
01:04This year, actually, I did about, I wrote a song and a half this year with my brother Angelo and the rest of the songs were, Colonel Roberts, write one, the rum letter, myself second stand, Private Ryan did that, um, Rosario wrote, Simple Man, Steam was written by Colonel Roberts.
01:25One of his breakout tracks, Beat Rumbad, has helped cement a particular identity, one Waddix says grew naturally through performance and audience response.
01:36Well, we always had Ravi B and them who was always traditionally giving us those kind of songs for partying.
01:43And, well, thanks to Mikael Teja who wrote Beat Rumbad, you know, he kind of gave me a spot in the system where, you know, yeah, he's the rum man now when it comes to songs.
01:58And, it's just, it's just about putting a smile on the people's face too, eh.
02:02But beyond party anthems, Waddix says his biggest goal is to reach younger audiences, while encouraging positive messages through music.
02:11One of my biggest dream right now is to really get more, let's say, children friendly songs, where, you know, I can actually engage the children.
02:20Although, don't matter what you do, the children will always sing the songs that they hear.
02:24So, that is why I find when I go to perform, especially when I do, like Beat Rumbad, I study children, always sing Beat Bugs Bad.
02:32You don't like fight, but you beat Bugs Bad. So, it's always giving them the inspiration to at least pick something good out of the song, change your words, but make it singable.
02:44For Waddix, performance is central. It's not just about singing, but creating an experience that audiences can feel.
02:52For me, my legacy must always reveal where, always being that entertaining artist where, you could come to an event and you're not in that mood, but however, just by seeing my presence and what I provide, you could say, yeah boy, this man.
03:10Because I had the opportunity to go places where people was like, they're not too, they ain't too lovers of soca music, which is our own.
03:18But just because of my presence and persona and how I care about myself, they'd be like, yeah, you really get me to shake.
03:24He also has advice for young artists entering the culture, especially about patience and hard work.
03:31Anything that was given easily, just know, most of the time it is disappear fast.
03:40When you work hard for it, and you see the fruits of your labor, and you get to realize, yeah boy, the struggle was worth it than you get before the struggle.
03:49When asked about preserving soca and carnival culture, Waddix keeps the message simple.
03:55The love of the culture is our own, as much as the love of the other genre of music, and just whatever you decide to do, put your best foot forward, make your family proud, make yourself proud, and make your Antibagos proud.
04:11Hey, hi, hi, I travel on the Waddix here, and you see TV6, come they love steam bad, wind up, wind your ways, I say you love steam bad, chook, chook, it's after midnight, time to get tight, now we head out on the road, all my babies and my bodies, time to broke out like a pro, you know we do business, we only interest is to wind and go down low, so set your fat list, get your fitness, and make that bumper roll, and everybody sing, whoa, TV6 Waddix says so.
04:40Alexander Brussel, TV6 News.
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