Kees says a major soca competition victory in 2011 changed his life and accelerated his career, despite his longstanding reluctance to enter musical competitions.
He said he had never been comfortable with competitive environments and preferred the idea that multiple artists could succeed without being positioned against one another.
However, people around him urged him to enter after Whatless gained momentum, arguing that he needed to defend the song and connect directly with the audience.
Kees said he eventually agreed, won the semi-final stage and later brought Lord Nelson into the presentation for the final.
The eventual victory, he said, dramatically increased the speed of his career.
Kees maintained that competitions are still not his preferred focus and suggested artists can invest energy in other areas with long-term impact, but acknowledged that the experience became an important turning point in his own journey.