Swedish soca ambassador Lars Hansson touched down for Carnival celebrations in 1989 accompanied by his charming Trini wife Sharmin. He was seduced by legions of gyrating masqueraders in fancy and skeletal costumes. Throngs were dancing in wild ecstasy to the sweet sounds of steelpan, soca, chutney and calypso. Hansson made a quick resolution to market T&T's indigenous musical expressions to his native Europe. The band Soca Rebels was born in 1991. Today, Soca Rebels lays claims to being the only band promoting T&T calypso/soca in Sweden and parts of South America. In April, it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a concert at Goteborg, Sweden. Interviewed recently, Hansson said: "The first time I came to Trinidad was in 1989 for Carnival. I got interested in the soca and calypso music. "I said I must do a soca band in Sweden. That's where I got this idea to form the band Soca Rebels in 1991." They have played at Nordic festivals like Midsummer at Tallberg, Svealand. It is an ancient Germanic custom honouring life and has its genesis in fertility rites. Swedish folk take to the countryside and dress in colourful costumes, resuscitating old-world traditions and eat their favourite foods like sweet Baltic shrimp and eel. Folks of all ages sing and dance to their hearts' delight. Soca Rebels began touring music festivals throughout Sweden and Denmark. Hansson added: "I did lots of gigs to promote Trinidad soca and calypso. Then we had radio interviews. We brought a Trinidad flag on stage to promote T&T culture. "Recently, we have performed at more companies in Sweden. We play at the companies parties. We focus on Caribbean themes. We even do festivals over South America and the Caribbean."
Soca Rebels ensemble
Hansson said Soca Rebels is an eight-member band. The setting is drums (Anders Howerdal), bass (Bjorn Hansson), guitar (Sarah Hansson), keyboard (Mats O Hansson), trumpet (Klass Nilsson, trombone (Kristian Gustafsson), two horn players and two back up singers (Amanda and Lozano Johansson). Patting himself on the back, Hansson said: "I do the lead vocals and I am the guitarist. I really like the rhythm and the happy beat with soca. It is infectious."
He was even more thrilled about its 20th anniversary milestone. Hansson added: "We are the only band in Sweden playing this music. We are playing other West Indian genres. We are the only ones playing soca and calypso."
As Soca Rebels gear up for its 20th anniversary, Hansson said: "We would be having Brother Shortman. Crazy will be a headline act. Of course, he has to sing Nani Wine, Cold Sweat and In Time To Come. Shortman is another big attraction. Goteborg is the second Stokholm. It's the second largest town." To date, Soca Rebels has produced songs like Rebel Jam and Tahiti Baby. Hansson has written Body Talk, Soca Nation, Soca Flight, Breathless and Party Hearty.
Apart from promoting local music, he worked closely with two established artistes Edwin "Crazy" Ayoung and former calypso queen Shirlaine Hendrickson. Armed with his CDs and four albums, Hansson boasted he did a Swedish version of Ayoung's chutney/soca classic Nani Wine. "Since then we have been collaborating on different tours and albums. "Soca Rebels has been working with Shirlaine Hendrickson. We did a love album with Shirlaine Hendrickson." The CD Raw Soca features Hendrickson's Black Power and Chungsin. It includes Arrow's Hot! Hot! Hot! and Nigel Lewis' Movin.
Bbout Hansson
He has two children Sarah and Richard. Sarah Hansson dabbled in composing. But she has recently been performing with Soca Rebels. "I am hoping she will continue with the music. I am proud of her. She likes Trinidad and she likes the soca music. "Sweden has several pop groups. Both artistes and songwriters are into pop music. But she likes the soca and calypso," said Hansson. While Sweden produces iron ore and Volvo cars, and is home to the Samer (reindeer people), Hansson's native Goteborg boasts a huge harbour. "Goteborg is a huge harbour town. We have cargo ships that carry goods all over the world. At one time, Sweden used to build ships."
He added: "Goteborg has a big amusement park. It is Europe's biggest." While he loves his modern Sweden, which borders Finland, Norway and Denmark, Hansson savours T&T weather, beaches and cosmopolitan peoples.
He said: "It's very cold. I love the hot weather here. I love the beaches. I always go to Maracas. I love walking around downtown Port-of-Spain and seeing multi-ethnic people going by. I love the energy and vitality of a Trini."
