Courtesy Overtime Media
Earlier this week, XVibes asked Soca Princess, Nailah Blackman to reflect on her career thus far and ahead of the new year. Since her debut alongside Kes with “Workout” in 2016, Nailah has literally, musically and professionally grown up before our eyes and put in the work creating numerous Carnival anthems, hitting stages and interacting with creatives around the globe.
This Sunday, January 4 from 4 pm, Nailah Blackman will stage her own annual concert event, themed “Sokah Origins: ‘TGIC’ Thank God It’s Carnival)” at the SoundForge car-park iff Mucurapo Road in Port of Spain for the first time.
“It has actually been nine years since Workout, which was my entry into the Soca scene, and how I feel about my career now is interesting: because on one hand, I feel like I’ve learned so much and I’m really grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve had over the years to grow and create, and take myself and my family from one space in life to a much, much better place…
So there’s that gratitude and love, but then there’s also a feeling like this is not exactly the way I want to be doing it and its something that you count your blessings and you also plan to do different and more and better.
“In the genre of Soca, I feel a bit more free than in past years where I’m much more open now to experimenting and making Soca my playground cause that’s the only way that the music is going to be where it needs to go, you know, so I’m really excited for my upcoming album, Born a Diamond, which has a lot of different and experimental sounds of Sokah music that really takes the rhythmic structure and carries it into a whole new sphere, and my legacy now will always be somebody who pioneered change and did something unique and however its received is how its received. I’m interested to see how everybody relates to my newer music, but for Carnival 2026, I have some signature Carnival bangers that I’m really excited for one being “Elevate” alongside the King of Soca music, Machel Montano. So, huge stuff is happening. I also just did a collaboration with Patrice Roberts which is definitely going to be one of the biggest girl anthems of 2026, So, in terms of Carnival 2026, that’s pretty much where I’m at right now.”
