Laura Dowrich spotlights five rising soca stars from Trinidad & Tobago
Every few years, a new generation of soca stars emerges in Trinidad & Tobago, adding their flavour to the genre, pushing the envelope, and stamping their names in the history books. Some lucky ones experience success out of the gates with unforgettable anthems — while others bubble slowly, building their catalogue every year until they become an indelible part of the movement. Here are five rising stars in soca to keep your eye on.
Yung Bredda
Born Akhenaton Lewis, Yung Bredda has been leading the new cadre of soca stars. Though he has been singing soca since 2022, the young man from Sea Lots got his breakthrough in 2025 with “The Greatest Bend Over” on the Big Links Riddim. The song was an instant hit, dominating airwaves all over the Caribbean and its diaspora, and was remixed with verses from American pop star Chloe Bailey and Ghanaian-American singer Moliy. Known as the “King of Steam” for his spicy zess lyrics (a dancehall subgenre), Yung Bredda cleverly used social media during the pandemic lockdowns to build a following and to go viral with his freestyle skills across multiple genres.
Lady Lava
Lady Lava’s musical style leans more toward rapso as she blends the chanting of dancehall with soca rhythms. She has carved a niche with her women empowerment anthems such as “Ring Finger” and “Bob the Builder”. Born Keisha Harris and hailing from Cunupia, she started her journey penning poems before recording her first song in 2008. Dubbed “the Queen of Freaks” for her dancehall and zess songs, 2025’s “Ring Finger” was her breakthrough. With celebrities like Cardi B promoting the song on social media, Lady Lava’s fame grew, culminating in her being awarded as the first ever Zess/Steam Artist of the Year at the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards — a new category recognising this emerging subgenre.
Coutain
Denzil Coutain, better known as Coutain, captured hearts in 2025 with his sweet, melodious voice. As an artist, he taps into the collective consciousness of the Caribbean diaspora, blending calypso, reggae, and soul with R&B into his signature sound. Encouraged by his grandfather and uncle, Coutain transformed life’s hardships into musical expression, creating his 2019 hit “African Dancer”. Since then, he has crafted songs like “Jamtown”, “Artform”, “Hotline”, “Junction” and, most recently, his 2026 soca offering “Wedding Band”. In 2024, he released his debut album 1996, produced by British multi-hyphenate Dwala.
Anika Berry
Berry is a Trinidadian soca artist and registered nurse based in the United States. She gained prominence in 2022 with her hit single “Jammin” and, in 2025, became a finalist in the Ultimate Soca Champion competition with her song “Saddle” on the Tilden Hall Riddim. Berry’s music blends traditional soca with R&B influences, reflecting her upbringing in a Trinidadian household immersed in calypso and soca. She began her musical journey in high school choirs and local performances, initially focusing on R&B before transitioning to soca. Her debut single “Romance” was released in 2019, followed by “Lash Up” (2021), which she wrote during the lockdowns to cope with the pandemic challenges. For 2026, Anika hopes to reach new heights as the newest frontline member of the legendary band D’ All Starz (formerly known as Roy Cape All Stars).
Sucre
The reigning Youth Soca Champion, Nkosi Sucre is a young and versatile singer, songwriter, musician, and producer from San Fernando. He fuses soca with elements of world music to deliver a fresh and captivating sound. Performing under the stage name Sucre, his passion for music was nurtured from childhood and strengthened during his academic journey, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Arts from The University of the West Indies. His style reflects a wide range of influences, drawing inspiration from icons such as Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Machel Montano, Kes the Band, Kyle Peters, David Rudder, and Bunji Garlin. Lead singer of the band Evolution, Sucre has also written for the likes of Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous.