Doin’ it his ‘own way’

VOICE has never been one to follow trends. Instead, he studies the past, learns from it, and refines his craft to create music that stands the test of time. In 2025, he’s proving that formula once again.

This Carnival season, the three-time San Juan-born Soca Monarch has turned to the foundations of soca and calypso, breathing new life into Shadow’s (Winston Bailey) 2001 Road March winner “Stranger”, while also unleashing two of the year’s biggest fete anthems, “Too Own Way” and Flatten”, alongside Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez).

For Voice (Aaron St Louis), these choices are deliberate. They represent a deeper artistic mission—one that bridges generations, honours the icons who paved the way, and ensures that soca remains rooted in something meaningful.

A tribute to Shadow

Voice’s decision to reimagine “Stranger” wasn’t planned. It was, in his words, a moment of divine inspiration.

“It kind of just came to me,” he revealed. “I remember recording ‘Higher’, and in the first demo, I freestyled some melodies. For some reason, I kept hearing Shadow’s melody in the song, and I couldn’t understand why. The initial concept had nothing to do with ‘Stranger’, but it just kept coming back to me.”

Some might have shied away from incorporating such a classic into a modern soca track, but Voice saw the challenge as a sign that he had to push forward. Read More