Bunji Garlin

Bunji Garlin

Bunji Garlin is a Trinidadian ragga soca artist from Arima, Trinidad and Tobago. Born Ian Anthony Alvarez, he is raised in the Royal Chartered Borough of Arima and begins performing in the local music scene before making his industry debut in 1998. He is a composer and performer whose work centres on soca and ragga soca, with additional songs that blend soca with reggae, R&B and chutney.

Style and identity

Garlin is known for his high-energy performances, freestyle delivery and confident lyrical style. He calls himself the Lyrics King, and he is also known as “de girls dem darlin” and “fireman”, the latter linked to his repeated chant of “Fire!” during performances. He says his stage name comes from the bungee cord, chosen for its flexibility, and from Garlin, a type of gun with powerful shots, reflecting his idea of bouncing back from anything sent at him.

Career

Garlin first performs at small venues and local events before building a reputation on the Trinidad and Tobago soca circuit. He is a member of Bunji Garlin’s Piece of Meat, and he also leads the band Godfather’s Asylum, where he supports and mentors soca artists who have not yet broken into the business. He is educated at Arima Senior Comprehensive School, where he is known for his chanting ability.

He becomes closely associated with ragga soca after adopting the style in his early years on the music scene. He wins the Ragga Soca Monarch title in both years the competition is staged, in 2000 and 2001. In 2001 he also wins Young King. He goes on to win International Soca Monarch in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008.

Recordings and collaborations

Garlin’s first soca recording is “Send That Riddim Crazy”. His early albums include Chronicles (1999), Revelation (2002), Black Spaniard (2003), Graceful Vengence Part 1 (2004) and Flamestorm (2005).

Notable songs include “In The Ghetto” (his 2002 winning song), “Warrior Cry” (2004), “Blaze de Fire” (2005) and “Fiery” (2008). Other recordings include “Get On Bad” with Onika Bostic, “The Islands” with Patrice Roberts, “Move With Us” with Machel Montano and Shurwayne Winchester, “Doi Festival” with JMC Triveni, “Stand Up Fuh Dem” as a Soca Warriors anthem, “Lick Down”, and “Three Colours” with David Rudder and Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez.

He also collaborates with Iwer George, Denise Belfon, Shammi, Kerwin Dubois, Red Rat, Bounty Killer, Super Blue, Prophet Benjamin, Rita Jones, Ronnie McIntosh, Fay-Ann Lyons, Shurwayne Winchester, Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts.

Awards and recognition

Alongside his Monarch victories, Garlin receives the TSTT People’s Choice Award in 2005. His work is widely associated with soca performance in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad.