Trinidadian soca singer Nadia Batson always looks forward to performing in Jamaica. She is scheduled to perform at Soca Therapy, which takes place at Hope Gardens in St Andrew Saturday evening.

Dubbed the ultimate soca warm-up fete, the event will be hosted by Fyah 105 FM’s disc jockey Brush1. DJs Kurt Riley, Kevy and King Taj will spin the hottest hits.

“I always enjoy seeing Jamaicans party to soca. I remember growing up and hearing ‘Jamaicans doh like soca at all.’ So the first time that I performed there [Jamaica] I was pleasantly surprised by the response of the audience. That’s when I recognised that Jamaica has a lot of soca fans. I’m excited to party with my JA fam,” said Batson in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

Her music career began as a teenager when she joined an all-girl group called Silhouette. Batson later became the voice for soca outfit KES The Band, then went solo.

Coconut Girl, Batson’s last album, was released in 2022. Her hit songs include No Pressure, Shake Down, Doh Tell Mi and Endurance.

“I stepped out on my own because writing, singing and performing is such a huge part of who I am as a person; that it just felt right to do what innately feels natural to me. My journey has had its ups and downs. I’ve had several challenges, but I continued to put in the work, and I’m grateful that it’s paying off,” Batson stated.

In 2007 she finished runner-up in the Power Category of the International Soca Monarch competition with My Land. That year, she came third in the event’s Groovy Category.

Batson co-produced the popular single Go Ahead and Do Dat by fellow soca artiste Michelle Sylvester, and was a judge on the eighth season of Digicel Rising Stars in Trinidad.

“I’ve always been an advocate for young talent. I feel like it’s not only important to support [up-and-coming artistes, but to provide platforms in which they can showcase their talent. Being a judge on Digicel’s Rising Stars gave me an opportunity to show my support and offer the guidance and advice that was needed. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to do that,” she said.