Machel Montano says women’s voices shaped soca’s global evolution

Soca superstar Machel Montano is proving that his journey goes far beyond the stage. Appearing on Way Up with Angela Yee yesterday, Montano revealed how earning his Master’s degree in Carnival Studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago has given him fresh perspective on the cultural legacy he carries and the direction he wants to take Caribbean music.

“For me, I’m mapping the next 20 years of the vision,” Montano explained. “To know where you’re going, you have to know where you’re coming from. That’s why I went back to study Carnival’s roots.”

He traced the festival’s origins not just to Trinidad and Tobago, but across centuries of history — from ancient Egypt and Africa, through Rome, Spain, Italy, and France, before merging with African traditions in the Caribbean under colonial rule. “Carnival was always about transformation. When you put on a costume and mask, this physical body disappears and you become one with the gods,” he said.

Montano also highlighted a lesser-told story: the central role of women in shaping soca music. While men once sang chants rooted in warrior traditions and stick fighting, women filled the interludes with playful songs celebrating beauty and sensuality. When colonial authorities suppressed the men’s “violent” music, those women’s songs became the blueprint for calypso and eventually soca.

“The women set the tone for what soca became,” Montano told Yee. “And to this day, women’s voices are at the center of the genre.”

With Carnival once again enjoying global attention, Montano says his mission is to carry a clear message — much like Bob Marley’s timeless call for “one love.” For him, the next chapter is about cultural preservation, inclusivity, and ensuring that soca remains a unifying voice for the Caribbean on the world stage.