<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trinidad and Tobago International\nSoca Monarch semi-finals are done and Problem Child\u2019s \u2018Nasty Up\u2019 has helped to\nconcretize his spot as a noteworthy contender for the 2020 power soca monarchy.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking exclusively with ANN on\nTuesday morning, Problem \u2013 known also as Shertz James, said \u201cthe semi\u2019s was\njust about making the finals for me. For the finals I\u2019m hoping for a lot more\ncreativity on the visual side of things\u2026\u201d He designed the semi-finals\nperformance from a minimalist perspective which featured \u201cjust me and the song\nand four dancers. Just to prove to myself how powerful the song is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an earlier exclusive ANN interview, the three-time Vincy Road March Monarch fingered budget financing as a potential threat to the problems he plans to create for his fellow contestants. That is still very much a challenge, Problem Child confirmed, as producing the closely guarded plans are expected to cost a small fortune. \u201cWhenever I\u2019ve competed I\u2019ve never been able to acquire financial assistance. Everything has always been out of pocket. I\u2019m hoping for some sort of sponsorship this time to bring my full presentation to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Problem Child, a Troumaca native, has been plying his musical trade on the Trinidadian shores since his breakout 2008 Party Animal hit song. He admitted on one Vincy morning radio show to only beginning to experience notable payoffs as of 2017. It was his consistency at finding means to stay relevant across media outlets in T&T that helped to promote his name as a household brand. Undoubtedly, this local presence, in turn, informs his creative process. This, then, guides the style of presentation that he has elected to offer patrons at Fantastic Friday\u2019s International Soca monarch competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping for some sort of\nsponsorship this time to bring my full presentation to life. The amount it will\ntake financially hasn\u2019t been assessed figure for figure but I have a rough idea\nof what it would cost and it\u2019s a lot for me to spend as a single unit.\u201d Problem\nChild told ANN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As to lessons learned from the semi\u2019s performance, he also told us, \u201cfrom the semi\u2019s I definitely learned for a fact that I\u2019m a favorite. I learned that, I saw that for myself based on, you know, crowd participation.\u201d The self-styled Vincy Bad Boy also compared the level of appreciation shown to other artists while validating his observation. \u201cObviously I couldn\u2019t see backstage when I was onstage but the people who were with me at the semis were telling me backstage was a mess; in terms of they\u2019ve never seen anybody backstage even people who were working you know, started to enjoy themselves \u2013 or participate, you know, (laughs) in the revelry while I was onstage. Just looking back on that alone I could see that, yeah, I definitely do stand a major chance,\u201d Problem Child said further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other lessons did present themselves but they form part of “Problem” top-secret arsenal. \u201cI did pick up on one or two things that I would improve on but I don\u2019t want to say what because you never know who\u2019s gonna read or come across what I\u2019m saying and pick up on that themselves and try to better me at it. So I just don\u2019t want to elaborate on it but I did learn stuff that I\u2019m going to definitely improve on as well,\u201d the shrewd Vincy showman explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have a meeting today with someone\nwho is trying to assist with funding,\u201d the prolific songwriter also told ANN.\nProblem Child is currently on a day\u2019s trip to his homeland. He\u2019s said to also\nbe taking a breather from his hectic performance schedule as Trinidad\u2019s\nCarnival fever heightens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the right financial support\nand if I\u2019m able to execute everything that I have planned (chuckles) things\nshould be very very good on the night,\u201d he reiterated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other power soca competitors are\nLyrikal with \u2018Rukshun,\u2019 Olatunji\u2019s \u2018Thankful,\u2019 \u2018Stage Gone Bad\u2019 from Iwer\nGeorge, Trinidad Ghost\u2019s \u2018I Ain\u2019t See,\u2019 \u2018Bun Up\u2019 by Shall Marshall, Prophet\nBenjamin\u2019s \u2018Betty Cat,\u2019 \u2018Bumper Murder\u2019 from Mical Teja, Preedy with \u2018Shell It\u2019\nand \u2018Easy To Break\u2019 from Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hance John, the other Vincentian in\nthe International Soca Monarch semi-finals, failed to qualify in his bid to be\namongst those vying to dethrone 2019 Groovy Monarch Swappi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
jp.schwmon.vincy@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Trinidad and Tobago International Soca Monarch semi-finals are done and Problem Child\u2019s \u2018Nasty Up\u2019 has helped to concretize his spot as a noteworthy contender for the 2020 power soca monarchy. Speaking exclusively with ANN on Tuesday morning, Problem \u2013 known also as Shertz James, said \u201cthe semi\u2019s was just about making the finals for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment"],"yoast_head":"\n