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. His spouse is Fay-Ann Lyons.[2]
Bunji Garlin | |
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![]() Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons 2014 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Ian Antonio Alvarez |
Born | Arima, Trinidad | July 14, 1978
Genres | Reggae, soca, dancehall |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels | VP, RCA |
Website | www |
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$tamind)[9] and 2008 with "Fiery" [10] He placed second in the International Soca Monarch 2009 with "Clear De Road", while his pregnant wife Fay-Ann Lyons placed first with "Meet Super Blue".[11] She also won the Groovy Soca Monarch title that same night with "Heavy T Bumpa".
Bunji Garlin's "Brrt" is featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.[12]
In 2013, Garlin won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance for the song "Differentology", which features Nigel Rojas on guitar.[13] An album of the same name was released by RCA Records and VP Records in August 2014.[14][15]
In 2017 he released Turn Up, which gave him his highest US chart placing to date, reaching no. 3 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.[16]
Discography
Albums
- The Chronicles (1999)
- Revelation (2002)
- Black Spaniard (2003)
- Graceful Vengeance (2004)
- Flame Storm (2005)
- Next Direction (2006)
- Global (2007)
- Fiery (2008)
- "iSpaniard" (2012)
- The Viking (2013)
- Differentology (2014), VP/RCA - US Reggae no. 6[17]
- Turn Up (2017), VP - US Reggae no. 3
Singles
- "Differentology" (2013)[18]
- "Truck On D Road" (2014) (featuring A$AP Ferg)
- "The Message" (2015) (featuring Damian Marley)
- "Television" (2016)
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
- "Antonio". Twitter.com. January 4, 2019.
- 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.
- "Bunji Garlin age, hometown, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- "Bunji Garlin wins Soul Train Award w/ Differentology". Damajority.com. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- "Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons Wedding :: Trini Jungle Juice". February 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008.
- "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
- "Jouvay.com: Interview with Ragga Soca Trinidadian Singer Bunji Garlin". Jouvay.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "carnival2004winners". September 7, 2011. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011.
- "Bunji Garlin Wins International Soca Monarch". Trinisoca.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "2008 Int'l Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin!". Bajanfuhlife Blog!. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "SUPER-FAY - Trinidad Express Newspaper - News". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "5 things you didn't know about Bunji Garlin". looptt.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- "Bunji Garlin wins Soul Train Award". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "Bunji album hits the road", Jamaica Observer, August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014
- Meschino, Patricia (2014) "RCA Records and VP Records Team for Rising Soca Star Bunji Garlin's Newest Archived 2014-06-04 at the Wayback Machine", billboard.com, June 2, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014
- "Bunji Garlin turns up heat", Jamaica Observer, September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017
- "Reggae Albums : Aug 30, 2014 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 30, 2014.