‘Carnival Time’

Visit When Steel Talks

Meshach, the back-to-back reigning Soca Monarch King (2003 & 2004) of New York, has been performing for over fourteen years and actually got his start in reggae music. During his years in the industry he has opened for reggae artists like Burning Spear, Everton Blender and Black Uhuru. He has even graced the stage before some R&B memorables such as SWV and The Ohio Players. So what brought him back to Soca Music? “Well, it was my Trinidadian heritage and culture that really solidified me as a Soca Artist. Performing soca music is a natural feeling.”

How did it feel to be crowned Soca monarch King of New York? “It was truly a privilege to be in that position.”

Meshach released the well-received Stress Free and Going Crazy for Carnival 2008 and released his 2009 album later that year.  His music can be found on the Soca Crossover 2008 compilation.

Ricardo "Rick" Quammie is a veteran session musician, performer and composer - resident in Brooklyn, New York.

Affiliated with Hometown Studios, Rick composed “Carnival Time” while working on projects for Hometown artists Sauntel and Meshach; the latter was chosen to do the vocals.

Hometown Studios president Jamal Talib took a personal interest in “Carnival Time” and recruited Eddie Quarless to arrange the song and Brother Mudada to co-write the lyrics.

Quammie is co-composer, along with Jason “Peanuts” Isaac of “Jamboree” fame (which was played by nine steel orchestras in Trinidad & Tobago’s 2004 National Panorama competition). Solo Harmonites Steel Orchestra’s rendition of Jamboree earned them 4^th place in the medium Band category.

In addition to composing, Ricardo Quammie has worked with numerous steel orchestras in New York, including Moods Pan Groove, Pan Rebels and Brimblerz International.