Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on Why Most Artists Can’t Keep Up

In this conversation, we dive into one of the most demanding parts of the Caribbean music ecosystem: the race to create a Road March hit for Carnival. Machel Montano and Che Kothari walk through the pressure artists face every season, from recording music in October to delivering multiple festival-ready hits by February.

It’s a nonstop grind.

Endless studio sessions, back-to-back fetes, live shows across Trinidad & Tobago, and the constant push to create songs that can dominate the road, the airwaves, and the culture. Machel breaks down how tempo, energy, and intention shape every track, while Che talks about the strategy behind building an album that can survive Carnival’s high-pressure environment.

But they also go deeper, into the emotional, spiritual, and mental balance required to sustain success in a genre that resets every year. Road March isn’t just a competition; it’s cultural responsibility, creative discipline, and artist management at the highest level.

If you’re an artist, manager, or anyone curious about how Soca and Carnival culture really operate behind the scenes, this clip is a powerful look at the process.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LMnduBDxM02PuYb6tW2xN?si=1KnMQX9ITwmvI2xDUpNQgw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook