Immensely talented, 12-year-old Form One student of Queen’s Royal College, young Aaron Duncan entered the calypso arena at the tender age of five, winning the 2009 NJAC’s Annual Emancipation Calypso Competition. In 2010 he won Tuco’s National Junior Calypso Monarch, creating history as the youngest ever to win that prestigious title at only six years old. This opened many avenues for the young champ and exposed him to the media and many celebrities.
In 2011 Duncan teamed up with soca king Machel Montano to shoot a commercial which earned him the title “Mini Machel,” as there were so many similarities with Duncan’s career and that of Montano, who had competed at the Dimanche Gras show in 1986 with his hit Too Young to Soca.
Duncan continued his winning streak, capturing the National Junior Calypso Monarch title back to back in 2011 and 2012, and earning the title for three consecutive years—2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2010 and 2012, he was awarded one of the Top 20 Stars of Tomorrow for excellence and outstanding achievements by the National Youth and Action Committee. The award was titled, An Inspiration to our nation’s youth.
Duncan also won the National Junior Soca Monarch in 2012 and performed at the Soca Monarch show alongside Patrice Roberts. He also did his own solo performance with his 2012 soca, Carnival Ah Home.
Every year, Duncan travels, performs and represents Trinidad internationally in London, Toronto, New York, St Lucia, St Vincent and Barbados. He performed for US President of State Baden Powell, was part of the Going for Gold album alongside Montano, and was honoured in the City of Boston. In 2012 he won The Express Youth of the Year.
In 2013 his first attempt in the Chutney arena proved successful, as he won the National Junior Chutney Soca Monarch. In 2015 Duncan won the National Junior Calypso Monarch title for the fourth time. He also regained his National Junior Chutney title for the third consecutive year and regained NJAC’s Junior Calypso Monarch title for the sixth consecutive time. He was also nominated and won the National Youth Awards 2015 for Arts and Culture.
Last Wednesday, Duncan copped yet another singing title when he was crowned winner of the Secondary School edition of the National Carnival Schools Intellectual Chutney Soca Monarch Competition.
His newest songs, Can You Feel It, has been blasting on the airwaves, and Ek Jeewan Kahani (A Life Story). He has been a star attraction at a number of concerts and fetes this season. He recently captured the 2016 National Schools’ Soca Monarch competition, senior category.
Duncan remains grounded despite his success and continues his musical passion and academic pursuits with equal vigour.
Q: Tell us about your early years and your family…where you were born, where you grew up, schools attended/attending including primary, etc?
A: I was born in Petit Valley to Sylvester and Lydia Duncan. I’ve lived here all my life with my both parents, my sister and my grandmother. I attended St Clair Creche, Newtown Boys’ Primary then transferred to Trinity Junior School, and I recently started at Queen’s Royal College.
What led to your becoming a calypso/soca and chutney soca singer?
At three years old I used to back up my sister when she would sing. My mother recognised my talents and decided to enter me in an Emancipation calypso competition at the age of five. After winning, she then tried me in the Junior Calypso Monarch at the age of six and I was successful, becoming the youngest ever to gain that crown. My passion developed for the art form and so we decided to venture into the other types of music like groovy soca and chutney soca.
What would you like to be when you grow up?
I would like to be a successful international artiste and a producer of music.
Who wrote your 2016 compositions?
I wrote my 2016 soca alongside Dale Ryan, Emmanual Rudder and Kit Israel.
How do you juggle singing and your school work, especially around Carnival time?
To me, it’s all about time management and getting the work that I’ve missed.
What are your favourite subjects in school?
My favourite subject in school is mathematics.
Is there or has there been anyone else in your family involved in Carnival?
My mom and sister were once singers in the calypso and soca arena.
If you could be the opening act for any international star on tour who would that be?
Machel Montano.
Which of your work do you rate as the most satisfying and memorable?
Machel Monday.
What goals and or ambitions do you still have?
I want to become a world renowned artiste and producer.
Of all your prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?
Youth of the Year 2012.
What advice would you give to the young people of T&T?
Never give up on your dreams and strive for greatness.
If you could pick any singer and/or band to perform just for you who would you choose…local or foreign?
Machel Montano.
How nervous are you before you go on stage? Any routines?
I am never nervous on a stage. The more crowd I see, the better!
Any upcoming shows and plans?
BaeWatch, CMB, Taste Of Carnival, etc.
What can we expect from Aaron Duncan in 2017?
Next year, I am going to further explore the soca arena.
Describe yourself in two words, one beginning with A, the other with D, your initials?
A-Ambitious, D-Dominant.
If you have any suggestions of people who should be featured in this series, please email Nasser Khan at nkhantt@gmail.com