For Saint Lucian entertainer Ezra “D’FunMachine”, performing at the 25th edition of Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) was more than another gig, it was a moment of pride and validation for Saint Lucian music.
In an exclusive interview with Grey Card Media, Ezra reflected on his return to the WCMF stage, describing it as “an honor and a joy” to once again represent Saint Lucia at one of the Caribbean’s most iconic festivals.“In the past, even though Saint Lucians made up a big part of the festival crowd, literally thousands traveling by plane, ferry, and other means, our artistes were hardly ever on the lineup,” he explained. “But over the last five years, that’s changed. Saint Lucian acts are now being featured and headlining. That’s because our music, especially Dennery Segment, has grown in strength, creativity, and appeal. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.”
Ezra’s high-energy set on Friday night brought Saint Lucia’s Dennery Segment sound to center stage, alongside a powerful ensemble featuring Emran Nerdy, Arthur Allain, Hollywood HP, and Invasion Band. Their performance closed the opening night on a thrilling note, keeping festival goers dancing well into the early hours of Saturday morning.
For Emran Nerdy, weighing 2025 Groovy soca monarch, the experience was both emotional and inspiring. “It was my first time performing in Dominica, and I was just blown away by the love and support, especially from my own people,” he said. “On a stage as big as the World Creole Music Festival, it was powerful to see the acceptance of our sound, not just Dennery Segment but how it blends with other genres to create something uniquely Caribbean.”
Meanwhile, now veteran showman Hollywood HP, known for his energetic delivery and crowd connection, described the performance as a defining moment for Saint Lucian music. “The World Creole Music Festival is a dream stage for any Caribbean artiste,” he shared. “To stand there, waving our flag high and seeing Saint Lucians in the crowd screaming every lyric, that’s the kind of energy that fuels you. It shows that our music isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving and uniting people.”
The Saint Lucian performers’ closing set drew appreciative applause and reaffirmed the Dennery Segment’s growing dominance across the region. From its humble beginnings in the communities of Dennery and Mabouya Valley to the global stage, the genre has evolved into one of the Caribbean’s most exciting musical exports that blends soca, afrobeat, and local cadence into a sound that’s both infectious and unmistakably Saint Lucian.
For the thousands of Saint Lucians who make the annual pilgrimage to Dominica for the WCMF, the 2025 edition was more than entertainment, it was a proud moment of representation, creativity, and unity.
As Ezra summed it up, “Saint Lucia’s music is no longer on the sidelines. We’re here, we’re being heard, and we’re making our mark. The future of our sound is limitless.”
