Machel Montano’s name is synonymous with soca music. Soca, which means "Soul of Calypso," is a fusion of calypso, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and East Indian influences. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Montano has been the genre’s driving force for over four decades, helping transform it from a regional Caribbean sound into a global movement. His career began in 1982 at just seven years old. By nine, he had formed his band, Pranasonic Express. He made history performing at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum—now called The Theater at Madison Square Garden—alongside calypso legends like Mighty Sparrow. In 1985, his debut album Too Young to Soca? gained widespread attention, cementing his status as a rising star.

"I was there when calypso music was big in the heyday with the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener," Montano recalls. His career has been about honoring tradition while pushing soca forward, and his recent “Tiny Desk Concert” was a testament to that. The performance was a historic moment, presenting the genre in its purest form and surpassing a million views.

“I knew how epic being on ‘Tiny Desk’ was because of seeing all the people that played there,” he tells BET. “It was a kind of overwhelming feeling, but I was prepared because I always loved doing unplugged shows, but I really didn’t expect the parameters of this one. We had to go on there in our rawest form with none of our backing vocals and backing tracks and click tracks. We had to be really, really simplified but straight to the point. So it was quite an adventure for me. It was really fulfilling to understand the gravity of it and the honor of being there.”

Montano believes this moment marks a turning point for soca. “Seeing Caribbean people from the diaspora of every island being represented, it made you understand that, yes we are out there in the world, but we need to really have a platform that we could showcase who we are,” he explains. “I was able to touch groovy soca, I was able to touch mid-tempo soca, and power soca and show them all the sides of soca music. I knew this was very important for the world to get an update on where’s calypso been, what has calypso grown into because we consider soca music to be an offshoot of calypso. I felt like it was something monumental for all of us Caribbean people making soca music right now because soca music is not just Trinidad and Tobago anymore. It’s Barbados, Saint Vincent, Grenada, it’s Saint Lucia, it’s Dominica. We all contribute to this vibration.”

That influence is becoming more evident as mainstream artists embrace the genre. Ciara was recently seen immersing herself in Trinidad Carnival 2025, joining a growing list of celebrities who have connected with soca over the years. “I see new peoples coming in and loving it and enjoying it. We've been having Ashanti coming down. We have had Ciara, of course, come in. We had Ludacris. Many hip-hop icons and pop music icons have been discovering the culture of playing mas, which is Carnival, which goes hand in hand with understanding soca music and then the entire Caribbean culture. I see the interest and I know it’s happening,” the Siparia native says. Still, he acknowledges there’s more work to be done. “I think we could always be faster if we had record companies and [the] music industry putting a lot of power behind us, marketing and stuff like that.” Montano believes soca could spread faster as the younger generation uses platforms like TikTok and Instagram, blending the genre with their musical influences and global awareness.

In February, Montano released One Degree Hotter, his first full-length project since 2021’s The Wedding Album. The title reflects his dynamic soca catalog and recent academic milestone—earning a Master’s degree in Carnival Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. That achievement has shaped his approach to music, deepening his connection to the genre’s history. “To know where you’re going, you have to know where you’re coming from,” he says. “To understand that Carnival is not just a Trinidad and Tobago thing or Caribbean thing. It's actually originated [in] those rituals and practices from ancient Egypt.”

The 16-track album bridges soca’s past and future, blending traditional elements with contemporary influences. It features collaborations with R&B star Ne-Yo and Afrobeats giant Davido. “This is me building this bridge while walking on it because we have had to master the old city. I want to try to twist the music into a different sound similar to what Afrobeats has done and what reggaeton has done,” Montano explains. “It's just all these ideas really on your head that you think, ‘What do I do now? What is necessary right now?’ And right now, it is related to what's happening out there. The Glorilla’s and the Doechii’s, you know? What [are] the real songs out there, and what are they really focusing on? The empowerment of women, the voice of young girls, the respect of culture and roots, and connecting to history. There's a lot of things in there to unpack, and One Degree Hotter was me saying, ‘Alright, this is what I did before, and I know what I wanna do next. But I have to build this bridge between the old city and the new city.’”

Beyond his music, Montano is launching a music education masterclass through his Monk (Movement of Now Knowing) Music brand. "We’ve decided that Monk Music must be a tool that young people can harness to take themselves deeper into the industry in [an] independent way but a well-connected way so they can be in charge of their careers in terms of data, understanding who their fanbase is, what the geography of that might look like, what the numbers are…Understand it in a business sense.”

His contributions extend into film, with a long-awaited documentary chronicling his career. "We’ve been making this for the last ten years," the 50-year-old says. "It should show you from the top of one mountain peak to the top of another mountain peak and what you can encounter…I have been going through many changes physically, spiritually, and mentally. The pandemic, the economic downfall, and [the] restructurizing of business. There’s a lot in there that this documentary will be able to shed light on, and people can relate.”

When reflecting on his 40-year legacy, Montano is less concerned with accolades and more focused on his impact on people. “I don’t live life from what people are gonna think. I live a very different sort of perception. I believe that we are all one organism; we gonna think what we’re gonna think, but it’s about our experience,” he says. "I really want people to take away the experience of how I made them feel. People will hold those memories [like], ‘Hmm. How did I feel on the road listening to ‘Like Ah Boss’ for Carnival 2015? Oh, what was it like in 2018 when he collaborated with Superblue?’ Those are the things you’ll take away. That’s how you would know who I am.”