With a voice that glides effortlessly between sweetness and strength, and a presence that commands attention without ever asking for it, Omiah Hall is fast emerging as one of Guyana’s most compelling musical exports. Dubbed the Soca Princess, Omiah represents a new generation of Caribbean artistes – rooted in tradition, yet fearless in her expression – bringing a distinctly feminine energy to the genre. From the moment she steps on stage, there’s no mistaking it: this is an artiste carving her own lane, one performance, one anthem, one crown-worthy moment at a time.

Your Caribbean Guide recently had the opportunity to sit down with the Soca Princess during an intimate studio session hosted by Optimus Productions, at their studio in South Trinidad. In between takes, she reflected on her musical journey so far, sharing candid insights into her growth as an artiste while offering an exciting glimpse into what the future holds.

Like many Caribbean vocalists, her musical foundation was laid in church. “I’m a real church girl,” she shared, noting that her uncle was an apostle. But it was in school-Elementary and later high school-where her creative energy was truly nurtured. 

That early visibility was never accidental. Music followed Omiah everywhere, even as her academic path shifted. While formally attached to one school, she often found herself singing for another, her voice moving freely across spaces long before her career would. By the time she left secondary school, her talent had already placed her in the Junior Calypso Monarch competition, a moment she now recognises as a quiet turning point.

“I always loved calypso, but I never saw myself performing it,” she admitted. “That competition changed everything.”

Calypso opened the door; soca pulled her through it. “Calypso and Soca aren’t that far apart,” she explained, “and once I won, I started leaning more toward Soca.”

Today, she describes that transition with clarity and conviction. “I tell people all the time, I didn’t choose Soca. Soca chose me.” While she still enjoys performing R&B and Reggae, she acknowledges that the version of herself that emerges in Soca is entirely different. “Once I got comfortable on stage and talking to the crowd, I knew this is where I wanted to be. This is who I am.”

That sense of self did not come without negotiation-particularly at home. Raised in a single-parent household, Omiah credits both parents for shaping her journey, even when their expectations diverged. Her father, a musician himself, embraced her artistic path early on. Her mother, however, had envisioned a different future.

“I was supposed to be a lawyer,” Omiah told Your Caribbean Guide. “It took her some time.” But as the wins accumulated, and as her passion for music became more apparent, so did her mother’s support. “Once my mom saw my little successes, she became my biggest supporter. She’s with me all the time.”

That support, she says, is the lifeblood that fuels her musical exploits. “Once my mom is fine, I’m cool. Honestly, once she supports me, I don’t care about anybody else.”

Omiah has been pursuing music professionally since around 2019, but 2025 marked a defining chapter. At just 23 years old, she captured Road March honours in Guyana, standing her ground against seasoned veterans of the genre. That same year, she was crowned Senior Female Soca Artiste of the Year, a feat that firmly positioned her as one of the country’s leading voices.

“I don’t like to single out moments too much,” she reflected, “but 2025? That year was fantastic.”

Now 24, she carries those accolades with humility, fully aware that the journey-particularly for women in the industry-demands constant resilience.

“As a woman, you have to work a hundred times harder,” she said without hesitation. “We have to look good, sound good, act a certain way-always.” She pointed to the double standards that continue to shape public perception. “Men can do certain things and it’s fine. As women, the minute you do that, there’s a stigma attached.”

Her approach, then, is intentional. Maintain standards. Protect your space. Surround yourself with respect. She credits her team for helping her stay grounded in an industry that can be unforgiving.

When asked what advice she would offer young girls hoping to follow a similar path, Omiah didn’t hesitate. “Be yourself,” she said-but quickly expanded beyond the familiar phrase. “The minute you embrace who you are, the people will love you-not who you’re trying to be.”

She also spoke openly about failure, reframing it not as a setback but as a necessary teacher. “It’s okay to fail. Just don’t fail and stop. Fail and use it as your stepping stone. The moment you pause too long, that could be the moment you were supposed to break through.”

For 2026, Omiah has already released two offerings: Happy Feelings, an infectious, feel-good track that has been warmly received both at home and abroad, and Forever, her power soca contribution for the season. Hearing her music played on Trinidad radio shortly after arriving in the country was a moment she described as surreal-yet affirming.

Behind the music is a proudly regional collaboration. Writers and producers from Antigua and Trinidad form part of her creative circle, a “Caribbean mix-up,” as she calls it, that reflects the cross-island exchange shaping today’s soca sound.

Still, beyond the accolades and airplay, Omiah remains deeply rooted in love for the craft itself. “When you love something, it doesn’t feel like work,” she said simply. “Music is my life.”

A creative through and through-once a dancer, model, poet, and visual artist-she eventually narrowed her focus. “Music is a jealous thing,” she laughed. “And I chose it.”

Looking ahead, her aspirations are clear. She dreams of collaborations that centre women, power, and purpose—naming Patrice Roberts and Fay-Ann Lyons as artistes she would love to share space with. “That kind of girl power would be beautiful for the soca industry,” she said.

And when it comes to representing Guyana, Omiah does so with pride. From the food and culture to the warmth of its people and the support extended to creatives, she speaks passionately about her homeland. “They make it hard not to love Guyana,” she said. “When you come, you’ll understand.”

In Omiah Hall, soca has found not just a voice, but a vision, one shaped by faith, family, and fearless authenticity. And if her journey so far is any indication, the Soca Princess is only just getting started.