Erphaan Alves’ Ultimate Kids Experience Making Space For The Future Stars Of Soca
Erphaan Alves is committed to creating space for the younger generation to showcase their talents. The Ultimate Kids Experience was conceptualised to do just that. Now in it’s second year, the event not only caters to the entertainment needs of the younger members of society but offers training and mentorship opportunities as well.
“We titled it the ultimate kids experience because we felt like if we’re gonna do a kids show, it should just be more than the artistes come in and perform and that kinda thing. We wanted to make it an experience. We had rides, the bouncy castle… there were actually workshops for Moko Jumbies, steelpan, drumming, singing and songwriting.”
So how did it all begin?
According to Erphaan the inspiration for this event came about during a conversation with friends.
“So this is the second instalment of the Ultimate Kids Experience and the honest story is I went and checked a good friend of mine by the name of Vornique Benjamin and they were liming and telling each other about you know, kids shows, reminiscing and I was like, you know, great idea, I want to be a part of that. And I just say, you know what, I want to keep you all involved too because they were talking and they inspired the dream. So it’s actually a shared vibe, you know for Vornique and I.“
In the weeks leading up to this years main event, Erphaan and the UKE team did a tour that saw them visiting eleven schools within a two-week period.
Speaking with YCG on the heels of the 2024 staging of the show, he explained that it’s important for him to make space for the youngsters the way others made space for him. He said it’s all about paying it forward.
“It’s just my energy when it comes to allyship, giving back, creating a platform creating a stage and creating moments where I could allow kids to go and show themselves and allow the parents to see the potential in them. There is only like the junior Calypso Monarch and the Junior Soca Monarch and community shows around Carnival but I just wanted to add to that and increase the vibe.”
A critical element of the Ultimate Kids Experience is the Future of Soca competition. The preliminary round saw children from across the country submitting entries hoping for a chance to compete in the final. Voting was done online and the top five who advanced to the final, performed on the UKE stage, vying for the coveted Future Of Soca Title.
This year’s finalists were:
Isabella Williams
Kymani Hector Kalloo- Yung Kymani
Zachary Ransome
Kelis Keira Hood
Jalessa Lazarus
While each of the finalists delivered impressive, high-energy performances, it was Zachary Ransome who got the judges nod and was crowned the 2024 Future of Soca champion.
For Erphaan, hosting this event and competition is a dream come true. He explained why.
“This is how I started. Scrunter called me up on stage in Edinburgh 500 in 2000 and that is how my pops saw that potential in me. I say you know what, if that could have been the way my pops see me his son-brave, bold and have a talent- I didn’t know about it, my parents didn’t know about it but the moment I was put in place on that stage, that’s where I was brought to life, so that is me and this is a way of maintaining culture and making things sustainable.”
Though pleased with the success of his event, Erphaan noted that there is a need for more platforms geared towards unearthing untapped talent among the nation’s youth.
“We need so much more of this and as I said before, outside of the traditional Junior Soca Monarch and the Junior Calypso Monarch… I believe that kids these days, their attention spans getting smaller and smaller, each generation to come so we always have to find new ways to grasp their attention and their energy. The Ultimate Kids Experience which is totally and definitely a kids event with all the other side frills with the bouncy castles and that kinda thing, for them to come in this space and see kids… They were jumping up to the kids and them more than me who they never saw anywhere! I believe that energy, that relatable energy kinda transcend and that helped this purpose and I believe it will live through and keep growing because we want to keep the inspiration going.”
The Overdue singer said in addition to children knowing and understanding what Carnival is, seasoned artistes need to keep finding new and unique ways to reinspire.
“On my end, I’m doing what I could to really contribute to it being safe… this is a start.”
