PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — After a quieter period in the music industry, Trinidad and Tobago soca artiste Terry Seales is preparing to return to the Carnival stage in 2027 with three new releases and a renewed focus on reaching audiences beyond the Caribbean.

“This is not a rebrand. This is a reestablishment,” Seales said in a statement, describing his plans to share his music with the world and return to the fete circuit with the energy audiences have come to expect from him.

The artiste has four songs ready for release.

His Carnival offerings are “Bring De Ting“, “Carnival Is Ah Vybe” and “Carnival Countdown“, while “Rock Bottom“, a collaboration with fellow artiste Michelle Sylvester, is scheduled for release after the season.

Seales said he was confident in the quality of the new material, crediting songwriter Anthony Junior and Chenko Productions for the writing and production.

“Anthony is a prolific writer. He was under the radar, but he is an amazing writer and for a long time the content I had delivered was not at the standard that we have worked on this season,” he said.

He added that he intends to take a broader approach to his career rather than depend on any single market or industry gatekeeper.

“I am a Trinidad and Tobago artiste, but my music is for the world to enjoy. I’m not going to be depending on the say of local DJs or critics to determine whether my music is good for global consumption,” Seales said.

The possible return of the International Soca Monarch competition in 2027 is also drawing his attention, particularly as he believes Power Soca needs more opportunities to be written, performed and celebrated.

Seales recalled that Boxing Day was once an important release date for artistes preparing their Power Soca offerings, but said the absence of a major competition had affected the genre’s development.

“People stopped writing Power Soca in Trinidad because there’s been no competition for it. Boxing Day was the date artistes looked forward to, to release Power Soca music,” he said.

Two of his upcoming tracks fall into the Power Soca category. Seales believes the genre needs more songwriters and stronger promotion, arguing that Groovy Soca has gained greater visibility on local airwaves.

“We definitely need more Power Soca songwriters. Groovy has been taking over the airwaves. We’re just not getting the command of Power Soca anymore, and if we’re honest, the marketing of Groovy Soca in Trinidad, has been much more powerful,” he said.

He also called for a return to the high-energy atmosphere associated with traditional Carnival fêtes, saying live performance should encourage audiences to participate rather than simply watch.

“A lot of the events now are like concerts. People are standing and looking at artistes perform. We need to return to feting with stamina and energy,” he said.

For Seales, preparation for the season extends beyond the recording studio. He said he has been working out, eating healthier and preparing himself mentally for the demands of performing again.

His ambitions are informed in part by earlier success with the New Creation group, whose remake of The Beatles’ Hey Jude reached number 44 on the Billboard Top 100.

“Good artistes aren’t always appreciated at home, but when they get the love of audiences outside, the love from home, shows up. I’m thinking global this time around and I promise, there’s no stopping me,” he said.

Away from music, Seales is also rebuilding the Terry Seales Hope Foundation, continuing his involvement in community development in his home community of St Ann’s.

His manager, Dr Vynne Baylissa Frederick, a psychotherapist with professional experience in the United Kingdom, has joined the effort and will provide free therapy and mental health support through the foundation.

The organisation will also offer free personal development courses focused on building confidence, developing skills and helping participants move towards their goals.

“We’ve decided to bring our work together through the Terry Seales Hope Foundation,” Seales said.

People across Trinidad and Tobago can visit terryseales.com to access the courses and find information on arranging therapy.

With new music in the pipeline and renewed community work, Seales is preparing for a return to the stage while setting his sights on a wider audience.