ARTISTS HEADING TO LONDON FOR NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2023

COMPILED BY | VANESSA FELIX + RADEYA OSMAN

ANIKA BERRY

Anika Berry is a multicharting international soca artist and one of the industry’s top vocalists. Since bursting onto the scene in 2021 with her hit single Lash Up, Anika has collaborated with UK artist Pahjo on Goosebumps. Catch her performing at Mawnin, on Saturday 20 August.

ASA BANTAN

Bouyon king Asa Bantan headlined Dominica’s World Creole Festival in 2017 and 2022, showcasing spectacular performances that are still talked about in Dominica, where he also hosts his own event; Asa's Annual Breakfast Fete will take place from 11 to 14 August in Grandbay, Dominica. You can catch Asa in the UK this carnival season, performing his 2023 release Badman at Get Soaked, Saturday 26 August.

FREETOWN COLLECTIVE

Freetown Collective are dedicated to their fundamental belief that all people are worthy of love and dignity. They incorporate the sanctity of humanness, or the nature of being hu- man, in their art in a way that is deeply touching and uplifting. There will be an opportunity to experience Freetown Collective live in London at ‘Welcome to Freetown - Windrush: Destination Home’, taking place on Friday 18 August at Dingwalls. For tickets, visit socaetickets.com.

JADEL

Jadel has recently been busy performing internationally in Toronto, Belize, Barbados, and the US.

A female soca artist who has stayed relevant and consistent in the business of making music, the Trinidadianborn songstress has cooked up a storm every time she's releasesd a song, whilst maintaining a balance between motherhood and her career as a songwriter and singer.

Some of her tracks are: Hold Me Close, Up In The Party, Take Notice and newer additions Tame Nutting, Spice It Up, Hot Topic and Shake Up Catch her performing at a venue in London, during the 2023 carnival season.

LYRIKAL

Devon Martin, better known as Lyrikal, produced two groovy soca hits that impressed soca lovers around the globe and amplified Caribbean heritage: his first track, Whey Yuh Want, a collaboration with Nadia Batson, and the second single, Wining Away. Lyrikal has gone on to have hits such as Cloud 9, Happy Place and, in 2023, Look Back Lyrikal is set to perform at Candy Mas' pre-carnival show, Get Soaked, on Saturday 26 August.

Lavaman

Lavaman is the second Jab king. His presentation and performances are next level, reflecting similar energy to fellow Grenadian artist Mr Killa. In 2022, Mr Killa and Lavaman linked up to perform at Preeday, Grenada’s biggest show for Spicemas. Grab your Get Soaked tickets from Eventbrite to see Lavaman perform.

Olatunji Yearwood

Olatunji always brings the Trinidadian heat to musical competitions such as Soca Groovy Monarch and International Soca Monarch. His performances are driven with culture, energy and embedded with full spirit in different dynamic styles.

Olatunji also graced our TV screens in 2018, when he appeared on X Factor, making it to the live shows. 2023 has been a good year for Ola as his