Adrian Dutchin returns to Soca Monarch with ‘Born and Grow’

Six-time Soca Monarch winner Adrian Dutchin

Six-time Soca Monarch winner Adrian Dutchin has returned to the competition this year with his new song Born and Grow, a tribute to his childhood days in Guyana. Since its release a week ago, the music video has been performing exceptionally well, already amassing more than 56,000 views on YouTube.

Dutchin, who has long been a dominant force in the Soca Monarch arena and is now aiming for his seventh title, shared with Ignite Insights the inspiration behind the song.

“Born and Grow basically speaks about—no matter where in the world you come from—remembering where you were born and grew up. It could be in Japan; if you see a flag, you’d say, ‘Hey, that’s my flag, and I was born and grow in this country,’” he explained.

He said his return to the competition stems from his love for the art form, adding that people from all backgrounds can relate to the message, regardless of their birthplace.

“When you do a song and you’re working with a band—the whole Soca Monarch theme—you put it together, and you get this feeling. The whole band, the musicians, come together and say, ‘If you do it like this…’ It brings people together. Music, mash, Soca Monarch—it brings the whole family together,” he shared.

The music veteran also expressed confidence that Guyanese artistes will continue to make their mark internationally, despite challenges in the local music and entertainment industry, noting that Guyanese music has evolved significantly.

He acknowledged that securing financing remains a major hurdle for artistes, but noted that the government has announced plans to invest in various initiatives to support the sector.