It has been five years since the last Soca versus Reggae. Headlining the much anticipated event on Friday at Tiger Bay are V’ghn for Team Soca and Cham for Team Reggae. V’ghn spoke with The Royal Gazette about what the audience can expect when he hits the stage.

Q: What excites you most about performing at Tiger Bay?

A: It’s my first time in Bermuda, if I recall and I'm always excited to go somewhere for the first time – just to see the reaction, to see how the music is doing, and, you know, to give a good account of myself – really and truly just to gain some new supporters, some new fans, and spread my music.

Q: What can fans expect from your set?

A: I give everything on the stage. I give everything to ensure that whoever I'm performing for enjoys. [That there’s] fun, happiness, smiles …

Q: Are you going to perform crowd favourites?

A: Yeah, I’m going to do as much as Bermuda likes.

Q: What are you most looking forward to other than performing?

A: I’m going to be there for a week. I’m looking forward to everything – the energy, to see what the lifestyle is like, what the people are like, everything.

Q: Are you on a tour at the moment?

A: I'm in Antigua on Saturday, then I come to Bermuda, then I go to the Bahamas, then Toronto, and back to Grenada, then Raleigh, London ….it's a lot.”

Q: Do you make holiday time for yourself at all?

A: I don’t think I need a holiday because it's music. You get to travel, you get to see the world and do what you love. I just try to continue to work hard. But during my downtime I play games, I play football, I just relax at home. I’m a homebody. I really don’t need much.

Q: Is there a song in your set that has a special meaning for you?

A: Every song means something to me. Every song has contributed to my life, and came from something – an experience in my life. So I treat them all equally. Especially when I have to perform it’s no longer about me. It's about the consumer, the people that listen to it, the people that buy it. And, you know, I try not to make this too personal. It is more about me sharing my experiences and my love for music with the people that listen to it.

Q: What inspired you to start making music?

A: God is the answer to this. He was the one that chose this path for me. I'm just grateful.

Q: Coming from an island was it hard to make a name for yourself?

A: I wouldn’t say it was hard, I would say it is hard. It’s always hard but hard work beats everything, including talent. So I just try to work as hard as possible.

Q: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

A: Chris Brown, Mical [Teja] … I take influence from everyone to be honest. I try to remain teachable. I listen to everyone – whether they're musicians or not, artists or not – and try to incorporate everything that I learn during the course of my life in the music, because it's very important. Basically, it's application.

Q: If you could collaborate with any artist from another genre, who would it be?

A: Chris Brown. He’s my favourite artist. I feel like we have a lot in common – he draws, I draw, he dances, I dance. I just connected with him on a very close level. In my mind, I feel like, this person is something like me.

Q: Is there anything you do to hype yourself up before going on stage?

A: I just pray. I don’t think I need to hype up before. I think I get the energy as soon as I get on so before I’m just usually quiet, relaxing and praying. And then I get on stage and the energy’s there.

Q: Which do you think will win, Team Reggae or Team Soca?

A: We are. We’re all going to win in Bermuda. We’re all winners. One Caribbean.

Q: Do you listen to reggae at all?

A: Most definitely. Reggae and dancehall for sure. I have dancehall songs. My second most streamed song ever is a dancehall song, Brick by Brick. And then I have quite a few that did very well. I just had a remix with Teejay from Jamaica. I've collaborated and written songs for Christopher Martin, Konshens … all these guys.

Q: What do you hope people here take away from the show?

A: I just hope they enjoy it. I hope they see how much love and energy and effort that I put into my music, and it's all for them to enjoy. Everyone be safe and just enjoy the moment. Take everything positive from it.

• Meet V’ghn in person on Wednesday from 11.30am to 1pm in the Digicel headquarters on the corner of Victoria Street and Cedar Avenue. Soca vs Reggae: The Return, takes place on Friday at Tiger Bay. Doors open at 8.30pm. Tickets, $100 general admission; $200 VIP, are available at bdatix.bm