Tanzania ?Tizzy? Sebastian

Red Hott, CP and Tizzy are once again in the running for International Soca Awards. All are past winners and repeat nominees. Online fan voting, which is how the awards are decided, begins next week at HYPERLINK “http://www.socaawards.com/”http://www.socaawards.com .

CP and Red Hott have three nominations apiece, and Tizzy scored two. CP?s nominated track is the up-tempo 2008 winner Bring It On. Thanks to her performance of this popular number, she faces off against all stars like Denise Belfon (Licks), Destra Garcia (Sassiness), Faye-Ann Lyons (Heavy T), and Alison Hinds (Bumpers) for boasting rights as Female Soca Performer of the Year.

In the Favourite Up Tempo Soca Female category her rivals are Faye Ann Lyons (Meet Super Blue), Destra Garcia (Bacchanal), Nadia Batson (Play Mas?), and Patrice Roberts (Sway in De Mas).
Antigua?s soca diva is also in the mix for Overall Female Soca Artiste of the Year against another formidable cast of characters ? Destra (Hott), Faye Ann (Meet Super Blue), Alison (Drop It), and Zoelah (Wine Up On Me).

Red Hott

Red Hott, led by Antigua?s unstoppable road march don, Oungku, is nominated as Favourite Up Tempo Soca ? Male and Overall Soca Band of the Year. The song of choice Musical Bomb; his rivals in the solo category, Stabby De Guard (Go Stabby), Ricky T (Wheel and Come Again), Skinny Fabulous (Head Bad), and Blaxx (Tusty). In the group category, he comes up against Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah, Machel Montano HD, Destra Garcia and the Band, Roy Cape All Stars, and Kes the Band. His third nomination is actually a nomination for his radio station Red Hott, nominated as best soca online radio alongside Frontline radio, Soca 919 FM, and Wack Radio 901 FM.

Tizzy, meanwhile, has two nominations for 2008?s Wuk Meh. The first nomination, a packed category, is for Favourite Groovy Soca ? Female where she?ll attempt to best Zoelah (Wine up on me), Destra (Hott), Shayne Bailey (Sweetness), Faye Ann Lyons (Heavy T), Alison Hinds (Bumpers), and Nadia Batson (Bumpers Rule). The remix of the same track, Wuk Meh, earned the El A Kru front woman a nomination for Best Soca Remix Collaboration alongside Pupa Leendi and Blaxx (Rum Oye) and Ragga and Skar (Chipping down de Road). If victorious she?ll be sharing that prize with her partner in song Trinidad and Tobago?s Richard Trumpet.

The ISA organising committee announced the nominees late this week in 36 categories overall.

They also named this year?s honoree recipients, usually reserved for legends in the game ? like Antigua?s Short Shirt in 2008. This year, there are no Antiguans but definitely true legends selected for honours. Calypso Rose will receive the President?s Award, Denyse Plummer, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Faye-Ann ? also a competitive nominee, readers may note ? a Hall of Fame Award. Singing Francine will take home the Legend Award, while Singing Sandra and Ella Andall have both been identified for Trustees awards. Allyson Hennessy will receive the Technical Award.

Claudette ?CP? Peters

The awards ceremony previously held in Trinidad, New York, and St Kitts, moves to Turks and Caicos this year. The self-described ?Caribbean?s equivalent to the Grammy Awards? was founded by Trinidad entrepreneur Colin Jackman.

The October 30th edition will be the seventh annual staging of the show. It promises to be ?a glitzy affair filled with excitement.?