Last year she was a finalist in the Groovy Soca Monarch Competition with the song “No Sweeter.” It was the first for MNR, who made the decision a few years ago to jump into the Soca arena. She also participated in the Youth Star competition at MusicFest Sent Lisi last December, which she won, performing an unreleased Soca number.
St. Lucia Times interviewed the Soca starlet shortly before her departure for Oklahoma where she now studies Psychology.
Christened Melanie Nicole Richard (MNR), she says that she has been involved in Soca music now for just four years, inspired to do so by another female soca artiste.
“I was working with Kisha K and I think that was kind of the starting point, being around her and stuff,” MNR revealed.
“But I have always loved Soca. I remember when I was little watching Soca Monarch on television and just enjoying it. So it was always something I gravitated to but as far as getting into it, I think Kisha was definitely the one who helped me to get my foot into the arena.”
Among her first releases was a song with Kisha K called “We jumping.” She also made it to the soca monarch semi-finals in 2024 with “Take Over,” and the finals last year with “No Sweeter.”
Richard told St. Lucia Times that she loves to perform and having competed in MusicFest in 2024, reached out to the organisers for a guest performer spot last year.
“I was not interested in competing. I just wanted to go out there and perform and so I reached out to one of the organisers who said I should instead go ahead and submit my song for consideration in the competition,” Richard explained.
“I submitted the song and a few weeks later, I was told that I made it to the finals.”
That song was called “Pride for Life. It is not officially out yet but I am hoping to release it soon,” she said.
Richard says she was truly impressed by all the other performers at MusicFest who came out fully prepared, complete with props, to give the event their all.
“For my part I went out there and did what I had rehearsed and I really had fun competing at this event.”
She expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors for affording the young people of Saint Lucia another platform to express their musical talents.
Asked about her plans for 2026, she will be releasing new music and entering the Soca monarch competition again.
“Last year I only released one song, but this year I have started my soca music journey much earlier. So I am hoping to put out more than one song this year – some good music that people can enjoy.
“I enjoyed being on that stage at the finals last year, where I had so much fun. It did not even feel like a competition. This year I am hoping that I have material that is good enough to again take me to that stage where I can make a lasting impression while having fun once again doing what I love,” she expressed.
According to Richard, she loves the vibe Soca music gives off and how people respond to it. “I have received comments from people that I should do Gospel music, seeing that I grew up in church and have sung Gospel music before. But I love Soca and I am not saying that I would not venture into other types of genres because I think you could always grow and expand but I think for now Soca is what I will be doing.”
