At 51, Trinidadian soca artist Machel Montano continues to define himself through constant creative output and cultural advocacy. Currently balancing studio work with a major documentary promotion and exhibition retrospective, the musician remains driven by a singular purpose: bringing soca music to audiences worldwide and deepening their understanding of the genre's cultural significance beyond its most visible celebrations.
The Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library opened "Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition" this summer, created through the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness. The retrospective traces Montano's trajectory from childhood in Trinidad and Tobago through his decades as a recording and performing artist. The exhibition combines performance costumes, vinyl records, and memorabilia from his extensive stage career, with visitors able to experience his music through the library's dedicated vinyl listening station. Brooklyn's selection as the exhibition venue carries particular resonance in Montano's personal history. At nine years old, he received a scholarship to participate in summer programming in the borough, an experience that shaped his early artistic development. During his time living on Utica Avenue in the 1990s, he recorded "Big Truck," which secured his first Trinidad and Tobago Road March victory. He later performed at Madison Square Garden alongside calypso legends including the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener, establishing himself among music's greats.
Montano began his professional journey remarkably early, singing calypso at seven and touring by nine. However, observing young audiences drift toward other musical genres motivated what would become his life's mission. By age eleven, he recognized that calypso was not resonating with younger listeners because contemporary culture had not embraced it as fashionable or appealing. Rather than accepting this generational divide, Montano resolved to bring the culture to young people or transform the culture itself to reach them, fundamentally reshaping how soca could connect with broader audiences.
This strategic evolution positioned Montano as one of soca's most influential contemporary figures while witnessing the genre's expanding global reach. Jamaica's increasing adoption of soca represents one significant example of this growth, as does soca's presence in international records. Technology has dramatically accelerated the music's dissemination and consumption. Streaming platforms and digital distribution now allow soca tracks to accumulate millions of views within weeks, a timeline that previously required years. This accessibility has simultaneously fueled greater awareness while enabling the music itself to evolve and develop in response to wider listening audiences.
The documentary "Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King" documents this transformation through Montano's personal experience. Filming commenced during Trinidad Carnival in 2015, capturing him during an intense period when he performed sixteen shows across seven days and forty-five performances throughout the complete two-month Carnival season. At that moment, Montano was reconsidering his definition of success and had adopted the performance name Monk Monte. His 2015 International Power Soca Monarch victory for "Like Ah Boss" represented competitive achievement, yet he aspired toward something deeper: winning global hearts and developing himself as an artist. The production continued for a decade before completion in 2025, creating what Montano describes as a meaningful time capsule of an artist's evolution.
For Montano, comprehensive storytelling matters because soca risks reduction to surface elements. While Carnival showcases dancing and elaborate costumes to millions, he understands participation as fundamentally spiritual and multidimensional. The genre encompasses revelry and celebration, certainly, but also represents something transcendent. Masquerade practices allow participants to temporarily abandon individual identity, creating communal experiences where thousands share lyrics and musical moments together. Montano advocates for direct experience rather than passive consumption through recordings, believing that soca's true magic becomes apparent only through genuine engagement.
Looking forward, Montano emphasizes gratitude as fuel for continued work. After 44 years performing, he measures success through listener responses and the inspiration his work provides others. Creating new material with collaborators remains deeply fulfilling, yet his vision extends beyond personal artistic satisfaction. He hopes emerging Caribbean musicians will build upon the access his generation established, recognizing island commonalities while preserving distinctiveness. He believes soca can address challenges far removed from Carnival celebrations, speaking to broader human experiences.
With exhibitions and documentaries now preserving his history, Montano continues approaching his work as fundamentally incomplete, finding daily motivation in the studio and the ongoing opportunity to share inspired creations with global audiences.
Source: Essence | Published: Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:16:15
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