Fya Empress retains Ragga Soca crown

Lornet “Fya Empress” Nedd will be back, bigger and better in 2014.

Nedd won the Ragga Soca competition last Saturday night at Victoria Park, making it back-to-back wins; she won the title for the first time in 2012.{{more}}

Performing the hit song “Ketch it”, Nedd, one of the favourites on the night, fended off stiff competition from Shernelle “Skaypyon” Williams, Orandi “Bomani” Charles, Hance John and Shaunelle McKenzie, all of whom had good performances.

“I had a very good time tonight,” Nedd told SEARCHLIGHT.

She admitted that she had been looking for more patrons to turn up at the Park – it being the first time that the Carnival Development Committee (CDC) merged the Ragga and Soca Monarch shows into one event.

“But the response from the crowd was immaculate!”

“The support is just there and it makes me feel as though what I am doing is finally getting a listening ear; so I feel really, really good as a woman in the business,” she explained.

Shernelle “Skarpyon” Williams, although having already taken the crown from Nedd — at least in the minds of the patrons at the Victoria Park, had to settle for the second spot, with his song “Hammer n’ Conchs”. Shaunelle McKenzie, doing her hit “Up in Dat”, was third.

Former Ragga Soca King, Raeon “Fete King Maddzart” Primus may have to agree that his performance did very little to stir the crowd, while veteran lead man Johnny “Johnny Rebel” Hall gave of his best, but again was not good enough to win the crowd’s support.

Tamisha Nichols-Lewis and Danielle “Daneel” Veira had the same issue – that of not being able to convince the hundreds of patrons that they were worthy of being crowned the 2013 Ragga Soca Monarch.

But rounding up the ten appearances on the night was the much anticipated “Butt me with Respect” done by the combination of Recardo “R3cka” Wilson and Maxwell “Tajoe” Francis. The presentation featured well known characters around Kingstown, “Kooman” and “Muntai” and gave the crowd some much needed laughter, ending the Ragga Soca competition on a high note.

Nedd also competed in the Soca Monarch competition and placed third.

She said she has a lot of respect for fellow competitors in the Soca Monarch category, Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle and Delroy “Fireman” Hooper – who placed first and second respectively.

“They have been in the business for a long time; I am now paying my dues,” she said.

She, however, added that she is comfortable with placing third in the Soca Monarch category.

But popularity has a price, she cautioned.

“As much as you would be getting new fans, there are those who will not like you.”

However, Nedd said that she intends to remain focused and turn a blind eye to the negative stuff.

“If I hear something, or I hear someone dislikes something I will try to fix it — if it is positive, but if it is negative, I will really have to turn a blind eye to it, because that will play on my emotions and I am not prepared to let anyone play on my emotions,” she said. (DD)