PARTY MONARCH WINNER and Barbados Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Peter Ram, Hypasounds, iWeb, Biggie Irie and King Bubba have made it to the International Soca Monarch (ISM) semi-finals in Trinidad.
With over 230 entries, five judges on Sunday whittled the number down to 59 during the prelims at Queens Park Oval.
The entries were judged on melody, arrangement and lyrics and since the semis will be a live show, they will also be judged on crowd response and performance.
King Bubba, fresh off performing on Old Year’s Night in New York, said he is ready to Mash Up the semi-finals in Trinidad on January 17 at Queens Park Oval.
The second runner up in Party Monarch last year at Soca Royale, King Bubba told NATION Online he is ready for the semis.
“The announcement was made earlier tonight. I was actually in my studio working on my Crop Over 2016 songs when I received the call. I have upgraded since the Party Monarch and I am ready to hit the stage. I am excited and I feel grateful for the opportunity to perform with the big guys as a new emerging artiste.” 
With no Groovy or Power categories as in previous years, it was an open forum and artistes were free to submit entries.
“We were allowed two songs and I submitted Whole Night and Mash Up. I am going to represent Barbados with Mash Up. I am ready to ready, ready to go,” he stated.
Hypasounds, who spoke exclusively to NATION Online via phone from Tobago, said he was actually boarding a flight to Tobago when he got the news.
“I feel real good. It is an exciting start to 2016 and kicking off my ten-year anniversary. On Sunday I received two BMAs and this is another step in my career.”
He has been touring nonstop since last August and was just in Trinidad performing for Old Year’s.
“I can’t wait to perform at International Soca Monarch. And 246 is well represented with the other Bajan performers who got in. I am just going to do my best.”
Hypasounds entered Sugar Rush and How She Like it and said he is still deciding which song to perform at the semis. (NS/TTY)