With his explosive energy and undeniable warmth, Machel Montano has long been both one of soca’s most visionary talents and most beloved ambassadors. The Trinidadian singer, songwriter, musician, and producer first displayed his burgeoning prowess as the teenage frontman for Xtatik, a band that blazed a new trajectory for Caribbean music in the ’90s thanks to their fiery fusion of soca, dancehall, and house. Ever restless, Montano continues to push soca forward with the help of his band, Machel Montano HD, and collaborators like Pitbull, Beenie Man, and Ashanti, his partner on 2019’s exhilarating “The Road.”