What is your name?

Micah Joseph

What is your sobriquet?

Baracka

Is there a story behind your selected sobriquet?

From a school play!

What is your profession?

Security Guard

How long have you been singing?

I started off singing Soca. I was always singing since I was younger, and I’ve always enjoyed listening to all kinds of music, from Gospel to Calypso. At one point I used to sing Dancehall.

I started singing Soca about 7 years ago. Came out with two controversial songs and was encouraged by fans to go into the Calypso field, because my songs were quite lyrical, so I did in 2015.

Who/ What inspires you?

Artistes such as Ajamu, Scholar, Flying Turkey, Flying Cloud, Praying Mantis, Cro Cro, Valentino, and other old school artistes from Grenada and Trinidad have inspired me a lot, not forgetting Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin as Soca artistes.

How does it feel competing against people you have looked up to?

Honestly, it’s a joy. It shows that I have come a long way. I’ve come from seeing them performing on stages to actually being on the same stage with them. I never thought I would have reached there.

It’s also always competitive and being there on the same stage with them helps me to be even better. Being in competition with guys like these, it makes me try even harder. I mean, I do my best at all times, but with them there I have to push myself even more because they are the stalwarts and veterans.

What are some challenges you face as a young artiste?

Mostly getting booked for shows. Sometimes, even though you get booked, people don’t want to pay the price you give.

For calypso, you may get a concert now and then, but nothing major. Probably one show for the year such as Legends in Concert or Masters of Calypso, but other than that there’s nothing else until Calypso competition comes back again.

Who are you? i.e. (passion, hobbies, family, favourite meals?)

Well, I just like singing and music. I like meeting new people. Cooking is one of my main hobbies and passions.

I just love food. If I had to pick a favourite food, I would pick lentil or dry peas soup.

My family is my main support. My parents and siblings are always there. Anywhere I’m performing, they are there to support. There are times I don’t even tell them I’m performing, but somehow they always find themselves there.

I remember when I was a little boy and my mother used to quarrel about me continuously playing music and singing loudly. To her then, it was noise but now, she is my biggest supporter. It’s a joy!

What advice would you give to aspiring artistes?

Calypso is hard work. You must do your research, dig deep and find the right topics to sing on. It’s different to Soca – you can’t just sing on anything. Ensure that your diction is there, grammar is on point and melody is key.

It’s a lot more work than Soca. It may be tough. But, I believe that at the end of the day it makes you a much better person and singe and it contributes to holistic betterment.  

I can always say to the youths, ‘try Calypso don’t be afraid.’ Calypso was there before Soca and it’s a journey, you don’t have to follow anyone, just try being yourself.

What can we look forward to from you in the future?

Expect great, positive music that can touch people. I will continue to do music that people can relate to and understand and can gravitate to.

It’s not always about the crown. The main thing is to ensure that you get your message across and maintain the positivity in the music.