Bunji Garlin

Ian Antonio Alvarez[1] (born July 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Bunji Garlin, is a Trinidadian ragga soca artist. He is also affectionately known as the Viking of Soca.[2]

Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons 2014
Background information
Birth nameIan Antonio Alvarez
Born (1978-07-14) July 14, 1978
Arima, Trinidad
GenresReggae, soca, dancehall
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1999–present
LabelsVP, RCA
Websitewww.bunjigarlinofficial.com

Early life

Bunji was born on July 14, 1978 in Arima, Trinidad.[3] He is of Saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent.[4]

Personal life

He married fellow soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of successful soca singer Superblue.[5] He is also a second cousin of singer Patrice Roberts, who performs alongside the popular Machel Montano.[6]

Career

Bunji has won Trinidad's Soca Monarch/International Soca Monarch competition on several occasions: 2002 (tied with Iwer George) with "Down in the Ghetto",[7] 2004 with "Warrior Cry",[8] 2005 with "Blaze the Fire" Both songs were produced by then band member Shawn Noel (Da Ma$tamind)[9] and 2008 with "Fiery" [10] He placed second in the International Soca Monarch 2009 with "Clear De Road", while his pregnant wife Fay-Ann Lyons placed first with "Meet Super Blue".[11] She also won the Groovy Soca Monarch title that same night with "Heavy T Bumpa".

Bunji Garlin's "Brrt" is featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.[12]

In 2013, Garlin won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance for the song "Differentology", which features Nigel Rojas on guitar.[13] An album of the same name was released by RCA Records and VP Records in August 2014.[14][15]

In 2017 he released Turn Up, which gave him his highest US chart placing to date, reaching no. 3 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.[16]

Discography

Albums
  • The Chronicles (1999)
  • Revelation (2002)
  • Black Spaniard (2003)
  • Graceful Vengeance (2004)
  • Flame Storm (2005)
  • Next Direction (2006)
  • Global (2007)
  • Fiery (2008)
  • "iSpaniard" (2012)
  • The Viking (2013)
  • Differentology (2014), VP/RCA - US Reggae no. 6[17]
  • Turn Up (2017), VP - US Reggae no. 3

Singles

Collaborations
  • "Carnival Tabanca" (featuring Tarrus Riley) 2014
  • "Coofy Lie Lie" (featuring Singing Sandra) (2002)
  • "Rags Don't Care" (featuring Chinese Laundry and Shurwayne Winchester) (2003)
  • "Soca Bhangra" (featuring Shami) (2003)
  • "Don’t Waste Water" (featuring Shurwayne Winchester) (2005)
  • "The Islands" (featuring Patrice Roberts) (2005)
  • "Lorraine" (featuring Explainer) (2005)
  • "Move With Us" (TSTT jingle also featuring Shurwayne Winchester and Machel Montano) (2006)
  • "Get Up Stand Up" (featuring T.O.K.) (2007)
  • "Hardcore Loving" (featuring Rita Jones) (2007)
  • "Swing it" (featuring Chris Black) (2007)
  • "One Family" (featuring Freddie McGregor) (2007)
  • "Bring It" (featuring Lalchan Babwa (Hunter)) (2008)
  • "Country Rum (featuring Neeshan Prabhoo) (2008)
  • "Bring It Superstar Mix" Lalchan Babwa(Hunter) ft. Alison Hinds, Andy Singh, Bunji Garlin & Ziggy Rankin (2008)
  • "That's How We Party" (featuring Busy Signal) (2005)
  • "Big Blood" (featuring 3suns, Sir Skarz) [2011]
  • "Sex, Love and Reggae" (Gyptian ft. Bunji Garlin and Angela Hunt) (2013)
  • "All or Nothing" (Elliphant ft. Diplo and Bunji Garlin)
  • "Jungle Bae" (Jack Ü ft. Bunji Garlin) (2015)
  • "Baddest Things" (Party Favor & Nymz ft. Bunji Garlin) (2015)
  • "Buss Head" (Machel Montano) (2017)
  • "Ride it" (Sebastian Ingrosso & Salvatore Ganacci ft. Bunji Garlin) (2017)
  • “Famalay” (Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano, Skinny Fabulous) (2019)
  • "Bomboclat (Light It Up)" (Dillon Francis, Bunji Garlin) from the EP Magic Is Real (2019)
  • “Break a branch” (Bunji Garlin, Motto) (2020)

References
  1. "Antonio". Twitter.com. January 4, 2019.
  2. Bouknight, Sebastian (September 19, 2017). "Interview: Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons on Soca Music Today". Afropop Worldwide. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. "Bunji Garlin age, hometown, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
  4. "Bunji Garlin wins Soul Train Award w/ Differentology". Damajority.com. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
  5. "Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons Wedding :: Trini Jungle Juice". February 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008.
  6. "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
  7. "Jouvay.com: Interview with Ragga Soca Trinidadian Singer Bunji Garlin". Jouvay.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  8. "carnival2004winners". September 7, 2011. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011.
  9. "Bunji Garlin Wins International Soca Monarch". Trinisoca.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  10. "2008 Int'l Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin!". Bajanfuhlife Blog!. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  11. "SUPER-FAY - Trinidad Express Newspaper - News". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  12. "5 things you didn't know about Bunji Garlin". looptt.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  13. "Bunji Garlin wins Soul Train Award". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  14. "Bunji album hits the road", Jamaica Observer, August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014
  15. Meschino, Patricia (2014) "RCA Records and VP Records Team for Rising Soca Star Bunji Garlin's Newest", billboard.com, June 2, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014
  16. "Bunji Garlin turns up heat", Jamaica Observer, September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017
  17. "Reggae Albums : Aug 30, 2014 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  18. "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014.
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