IN 1974 Winston Bailey, The Mighty Shadow, sang about hearing a voice in his head every night in the song, Bassman, which captured the Road March title that year.

He sang:

Ah don’t know how dis t’ing get inside me.

But every morning, he drivin’ me crazy.

Like he takin’ me head for a pan yard.

Morning and evening, like dis fella gone mad.”

Almost 49 years year, soca artiste Hollice Map, known as Mr Killa, in a tribute to Shadow, almost five years after his passing, said he had a similar experience.

He told Newsday in a phone interview, his deep respect for Shadow’s contribution to the art is why he felt Shadow’s spirit found him, "got inside his head" and lead him to produce The Spirit of Shadow.

This song mimics the style of the late calypsonian.

At first listen, one would think parts from old Shadow hits were doctored to create the impression that Shadow was featured in the song. But, Mr Killa adjusted his voice to imitate the pitch, monotone, croakiness and every shrill of Shadow’s vocal capabilities.

He explained there was “a strong voice in his head” telling him to do a song that would honour and embody the art of J’Ouvert – Shadow style.

[caption id="attachment_998578" align="alignnone" width="731"] Mr Killa: There are some things I see happening in Trinidad that I felt sad about. Trinidad is the big brother and needs to wake up and preserve the music that is its most valuable asset.-[/caption]

The Spirit of Shadow is about revelry in paint, mud and powder among traditional Carnival characters, to the sound of a vibrant bottle and iron rhythm section.

“This, I cannot completely explain. It was so strong,” he said, adding, “I felt like Shadow himself say ‘Hey, I’m still alive.’ I’m not pushing this, it's Shadow... This song felt so to me, the energy felt so right and good.”

The initial plan for Carnival 2023 was never to pay tribute to Shadow in song. “I just know I wanted to do something authentic for this Carnival. Something in the old-school range, something coming out of calypso into soca.

“I started thinking about doing something that would reflect the foundation of soca.

After listening to the instrumental a few times, Mr Killa said he kept hearing “this is a Shadow style, do something for Shadow.

“You still hear my voice in between (in the song) but it’s like Shadow was singing with me.”

[caption id="attachment_998577" align="alignnone" width="683"] -[/caption]

He studied Shadow’s technique and lyrical terminology. And in two days, he wrote and recorded the song with backup vocals from Calypso Queen Terri Lyons.

“At this moment, I still have questions to ask myself when pertaining to this song.

“Over the couple of years, you would hear a lot of complaints about the authenticity of the music and the culture and it's dying because it’s changing. We know things have to evolve but we have to keep a big piece of our foundation set.

“That was the plan in my mind. But the universe listens to you and how deep that thought is the universe starts making it a reali