Winter Fires – By Azara Lavia
Winter Fires Back Those
The 2026 Jumpy Soca Monarch Tian Winter has fired back at Prime Minister Gaston Browne after Browne said Winter should not have won this year’s title using a previously released song.
Speaking on his radio show on Saturday, Browne argued that Carnival artists have an entire year to prepare new material and should not return to songs produced in previous years.
Browne said artists are expected to produce fresh music annually and questioned the practice of entering older material in competition.
“I think the rules should be changed,” Browne said, maintaining that a song produced in a previous year should not remain eligible simply because it was not previously performed in competition.
Winter responded by defending his victory and pointing to four songs he released for Antigua’s 2026 Carnival: Want Um, Wait So Long, Beat It and Single Pan Di Road.”
He said all four could have been entered in the Soca Monarch competition, but he chose the songs he believed had the strongest competition appeal under the existing rules.
“Don’t blame me for simply using said rules and regulations,” Winter said.
Winter then took aim at the growing use of artificial intelligence in music, saying: “People who’s (sic) music career is grounded in AI lyrics and melody should be quiet.”
Browne later responded, encouraging Winter to use AI and other technologies to assist with his music production, while maintaining that the competition rules should be changed to ban previously produced songs.
“I maintain that the competition rules should change to ban previously produced, dated songs,” Browne said.
He also urged Winter to look beyond local competition success and pursue an international career, telling him to “level up” and become a world-class artist producing music that can be exported.
Browne said he remains a Winter fan, but argued that local artists must focus on producing fresh, internationally marketable music.
Winter’s final response acknowledged one part of Browne’s argument that the rules should change but pointed out that he is not the first or second person to win a crown with a previously released song.
“Well change the rules cause clearly I’m not the first or second person to win a crown with a prior song,” Winter said.
He also embraced Browne’s call for greater international ambition, saying: “I do agree that I need to be on the world stage, with your help and investment that can become a reality.”
But Winter then turned Browne’s appeal for constructive criticism back on the PM, saying he would consider the advice the next time he believes Browne is not doing a good job running the country.
The discussion drew mixed reactions, with some agreeing with the Prime Minister that new songs should be required, while others argued that the age of the song should not matter as much as the quality of the performance on the night. Many also praised Winter for his significant contributions to Antigua’s music and culture over the years, describing him as one of the country’s greatest musicians.
