A year after recommitting to his passion for songwriting and production, Blazin’ FM CEO Dwayne Mendes is seeing the payoff.
His co-written and co-produced soca track Cyah Behave, performed by Voice, has become a hit on the 2026 Trinidad carnival circuit and was selected by Exodus Steel Orchestra, the reigning Panorama champions, as their tune for this year’s competition.
Throughout 2025, Mendes explored R&B, dancehall and reggae, but says Miami Carnival last October rekindled his soca spark.
“Before Miami Carnival, I wasn’t really inspired by soca. I guess for Saint Lucia Carnival, I was very busy working, setting up for events and stuff, mostly by the door, not paying much attention to the music itself or the crowd,” he explains.
“But during Miami Carnival, I was able to absorb the atmosphere a little better, remind myself what people loved about soca, and I started writing and producing after that.”
Industry feedback sharpened his craft.
“Everything they taught me, everything that they referenced, I took into consideration and adjusted my writing style. As I got better, I started going back into older songs and fixing them since I understood what people were looking for – the sing-alongs, hooks, and so on. I created a style and a formula for myself.”
Treating music as a business, Mendes now contracts brokers to pitch his songs.
“This helps my system grow and move very quickly. So at this point, I think I’m negotiating like eight songs, which will allow me to remain creative.”
He notes soca’s current trend of blending the old with innovation.
“For me, music is a circle just like fashion… what might sound nostalgic to you may sound brand new to the 18 to 25 demographic. So it is really a smart way to bring generations together and to get them to enjoy soca music, which has this feel-good sound.”
For Saint Lucia Carnival, Mendes is collaborating with Teddyson John on a fresh take of an old song and preparing new material with former monarch Alpha.
He recalls his earlier role with Studio 758 and SLU Records, which produced Ricky T’s Pressure Boom and broke ground internationally. It led the artistes to the International Soca Monarch and Madison Square Gardens with Machel, both firsts for soca in Saint Lucia.
“Now, the money is very different… We had to build everything from the ground up since this was new to Saint Lucia at the time and there was not much money in what we did. It is different now. We have artistes who are now generally successful… So now, I am not looking to manage anyone; I am looking to provide them with good songs and quality music.”
Mendes says he is proud to see Saint Lucia’s soca scene flourish.
“I am just happy that I can reap some of the fruits from what we started more than 15 years ago and just to be a part of this industry again, from a different perspective and with renewed interest.”
Outside of soca, Mendes says he continues ghostwriting for major dancehall artists and awaits word on album placements with a Jamaican act signed to an international label.
