He has worked with the titans of Soca music. He has written and produced anthems that have crowned monarchs. Yet, if you ask the average listener who Stamina Smurf is, you’re likely to be met with a blank stare.
Shemuel Thomas, better known in production circles as Stamina Smurf, is a revered name among Caribbean creatives, but he remains largely un-recognized by the public.
From Prospect to Production Stardom
Hailing from Revierre/Prospect, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Smurf’s journey began long before his name ever appeared on a flyer. His first major accolade came in 2014 when “Gorg” took home the Party Monarch crown in Barbados with a song Smurf produced.
By 2017, Smurf was producing for seasoned Soca artistes. He provided production on the track ‘Stay Home Wine’, performed by Shernelle “Skarpyon” Williams, which claimed second place in the Ragga Soca Monarch competition, further cementing his presence in the industry.
The Man Behind the Madness
If the name still doesn’t ring a bell, his music certainly will. In 2023, he co-wrote and produced Fireman Hooper’s runaway hit “Madness”, which swept both the Soca Monarch and Road March titles during Vincy Mas.
His collaborator list reads like a Carnival poster: Kerwin DuBois, Teddyson John, Lava Man, King Bubba, Shaunelle McKenzie, Prezzi Don, and Skinny Fabulous, to name a few. Still, despite being behind some of the region’s most powerful performances, Smurf has yet to become a household name.
“It’s humbling, but I’m ready to shift that narrative,” he told ANN in an exclusive interview.
Ready for the Spotlight
Smurf’s catalogue has amassed more than 300,000 streams, and his social media presence continues to grow, an indication that fans are finally connecting the dots.
His steamy music video for this single ‘Climax’ amassed 338,000 views on YouTube last year – attention that he hopes to take advantage of.
For Vincy Mas 2025, Smurf has released the Ring Pop Riddim, a project he fully produced. The riddim features an impressive cast of regional stars, including Skarpyon, Skinny Fabulous, Mad Skull, King Bubba, Teddyson John, Nicki Pierre, and Shanny D.
He also produced and co-wrote Fireman Hooper’s politically resonant single, “The People’s Cry”, another track poised to stir the Carnival landscape.
As a performer, Smurf has two featured tracks this year, “Kiss N Tell” on the Reach Back Riddim, produced by Parry Jack, and “Sharing for Life” on the Lost Tribe Riddim, produced by Karbon Jamz. He also teamed up with Prezzi Don on the heartfelt D.A.M.L. (Don’t Appreciate My Love).
A Legacy in the Making
“I currently feel like I’ve been progressing a lot in Soca music,” he shared. “My following has been growing, the respect has been building, and many opportunities are consistently being presented to me.”
With a decade of hits behind him and a defining Carnival season ahead, Stamina Smurf is emerging from the shadows, not just as a hitmaker, but as a headline act in his own right.
