By VERDEL BISHOP Monday, December 1 2008

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Soca artiste Slammer....

STEPHON “Slammer Cutter” Mark is the newest face on the local soca circuit. After living in Toronto, Canada, and performing there for many years, Slammer has brought his talent back home in time for Carnival, with a new single, “Hangover”.

Slammer said he was born with a love for TT culture and living in Toronto didn’t lessen his desire to keep churning out soca lyrics. Although he has been in the background for sometime, he has collaborated with some of soca’s biggest names locally and regionally, including Kerwin Du Bois, Talpree and Baby Killa.

His latest offering is produced by Kerwin Du Bois and has already been launched on various radio stations.

Slammer said the time has finally come for him to make a significant input into the art form.

“I have always been in the background writing, even performing in Toronto, but there came a point in time when I decided to come back home to take part in my culture,” he said, adding that he is intent on adding a vibrant new energetic flavour to the entertainment circuit.

“I have a passion for soca, and I will continue to use my talent as best as I could into the art form. I see myself as an international soca artist writing and producing songs for other artists withing the soca industry”.

Born in Cumuto Village, Slammer started performing at age 14 in school competitions and community events.

It was there he realised that music was an avenue through winch he could express his views and thoughts. Slammer, who names as his role models, calypsonians The Mighty Sparrow, Black Stalin, Shadow, Lord Kitchener and Arrow, produced his first song, “Rag and Flag”, at age 16.

The passion to perform has only increased over time and Slammer has continued to release several CD singles such as “No Scene”, “Chinese Wuk”, “Mash Up” and “Soccer Man”.

Slammer plans a re-mix of “Hangover” with Big Rich at the Pungalunk’s Factory Studio – producers of Hunter’s 2008 hit song, “Bring It”.