Sekon Sta (Trinidad)
For Sekon Sta, the son of the late and legendary Trinidadian calypsonian Merchant, a career on stage could not come more naturally: It was only a matter of time before he began penning his own tunes and performing. After appearances in Trinidad’s Junior Soca Monarch and National Extempo competitions, Sekon gained considerable public attention while competing on local channel Synergy TV’s Soca Star back in 2010. He returned to the big stage in 2015, and got some deserving recognition as “Breakthrough Artist” at last year’s International Soca Monarch with his hit “The Best,” on Advokit Productions’ Kan Kan riddim. A powerful performer, he is also a gifted songwriter who’s penned Trinidad Carnival and Crop Over hits for other artists including Nadia Batson and Barbados’ King Bubba FM. When not onstage, Sekon is an on-air personality alongside long-time partner in crime, Selecta K, on Trinidad’s Slam 100.5. The momentum continues into 2016: “Magic,” his collaboration with Nadia Batson, is emerging as a people’s choice, as he gets set to perform at this year’s Soca Monarch finals. —Marcha M. Johnson
How would you describe your sound?
High energy, capturing the energy of Carnival. Very versatile. I change how I sound every year. How I sound this year isn’t the same [as] how I sound last year.
Tell us a little bit about the place you come from…
I come from the land of soca and calypso, so it’s very natural for me to gravitate towards the indigenous artforms of Trinidad and Tobago. Our beautiful sister island nation is the mecca of Carnival, with an abundance of cultures and colors — mini paradise which inspires the happy sound of soca, which I would say is at the core of my sound.
What were your highlights in 2015?
Well, I was a breakout artist at International Soca Monarch, overall for the year, and I mash up the place.
What should we expect to see and hear from you in 2016?
More smashes. To do better than I did last year, for me to become more in tune with myself as an entertainer, and go from strength to strength because each year is a new lesson learned.
Tell us about the moment where you knew you had broken through as an artist…
Last year, with “The Best,” I was a topic of discussion for the whole country, especially after my Soca Monarch performance.
What artists are you watching
I tend to look at myself as the only one in the race. To win, you don’t look in the other sprinter’s lane. That being said, I respect all the new generation and all the veterans because everyone has a contribution.