Orlando Octave – “Auction” Brings Groovy Soca Energy to Carnival 2025

Orlando Octave’s “Auction” was one of the songs that helped shape the conversation around Trinidad & Tobago’s 2025 Carnival season.

Released in January 2025, the groovy soca track gave Octave another opportunity to showcase his versatility while connecting with listeners through a catchy Carnival-ready production.

The song was written by Orlando Octave, Keon Serrette and David “MillBeatz” Millien, with Xpert Productions handling production, mixing and mastering. Vocal production and recording were handled by MillBeatz at MillBeatz Entertainment Studio in Trinidad.

“Auction” Enters the 2025 Soca Season

“Auction” arrived during one of the busiest periods on the Trinidad & Tobago music calendar.

With artists releasing new music in the months leading into Carnival, the competition for attention was intense. Songs had to connect with DJs, radio audiences, fete-goers and listeners streaming music online.

Orlando Octave’s release quickly became part of that Carnival conversation.

The song was also selected as one of the contestants in the inaugural Ultimate Soca Champion competition, putting Octave alongside some of the region’s established and emerging soca performers.

Orlando Octave Competes in Ultimate Soca Champion

“Auction” earned Orlando Octave a place among the 20 semi-finalists competing in the 2025 Ultimate Soca Champion competition.

The competition offered a TT$1 million grand prize, making it one of the biggest opportunities for soca artists during the 2025 season.

Octave eventually advanced to the grand-final lineup.

The final competition featured 11 performers, with Orlando Octave representing Rio Claro with “Auction.”

That placement gave the song additional exposure beyond the normal Carnival release cycle.

A Song Built for the Groovy Soca Crowd

“Auction” sits within the groovy side of soca, a style that allows artists to focus on melody, rhythm and vocals while still maintaining the energy associated with Carnival.

The song’s production gives Octave room to deliver the record without relying entirely on the faster pace associated with power soca.

That versatility is important for an artist like Orlando Octave, whose catalog includes different styles and moods.

The Production Behind “Auction”

The record brought together several Trinidadian music professionals.

Orlando Octave, Keon Serrette and David “MillBeatz” Millien are credited as writers.

Xpert Productions handled production, mixing and mastering, while MillBeatz provided vocal production and recording at MillBeatz Entertainment Studio.

The collaboration demonstrates the team effort behind a modern soca release.

While listeners often focus on the performer, producers, engineers, musicians and vocal-production teams play an equally important role in turning an idea into a finished record.

Orlando Octave’s Carnival Performance

“Auction” also became part of Octave’s live Carnival presentation.

At the Ultimate Soca Champion finals on February 20, 2025, Octave delivered a performance that received attention for its visual storytelling.

Trinidad & Tobago Newsday reported that his performance opened with a scene depicting a woman with bruises on her face and a confrontation involving an abusive man. The presentation then delivered a message encouraging women to choose their partners carefully.

The performance demonstrated how Carnival competition is about more than simply singing a song.

Artists increasingly use costumes, staging, choreography and storytelling to make their performances stand out.

“Auction” and the Evolution of Soca Competition

The Ultimate Soca Champion competition gave artists another platform to present their music and performances to a national audience.

Alongside established names, the competition featured newer voices competing for significant prize money and exposure.

Orlando Octave’s inclusion with “Auction” placed him in a diverse field that included Yung Bredda, Nailah Blackman, Preedy, Ding Dong, GI, Jadel and Trinidad Killa.

That lineup reflected the range of sounds being presented during Trinidad & Tobago’s 2025 Carnival season.

Why “Auction” Matters

For Orlando Octave, “Auction” represented another step in maintaining his presence within Trinidad’s competitive soca environment.

The song was not simply released and left to compete on streaming platforms.

It became part of a larger Carnival campaign involving live performance, competition and audience engagement.

That combination can be important for Caribbean artists because Carnival remains one of the strongest opportunities for soca performers to connect directly with audiences.

Orlando Octave Beyond “Auction”

Octave continued releasing music after the 2025 Carnival season.

His later releases included collaborations with MillBeatz, showing that his work continued beyond the “Auction” campaign. Shazam lists “Winner,” by Orlando Octave & Millbeatz, as a November 2025 release.

This continued output is important when looking at “Auction” as part of Octave’s broader career rather than as an isolated Carnival single.

DLB Music Marketing Take

“Auction” is a good example of how a soca song can develop beyond its initial release.

The record entered the 2025 Carnival season, earned Orlando Octave a place in the Ultimate Soca Champion competition and became part of a larger live-performance story.

For Caribbean artists, those opportunities can be just as important as streaming numbers.

A song can live through the fete circuit, competitions, radio, social media and live performances, creating different ways for audiences to connect with the music.

Orlando Octave’s “Auction” shows that modern soca continues to operate across all of those spaces.

As Caribbean music continues expanding internationally, the combination of strong songs, live performance and cultural storytelling remains one of soca’s biggest strengths.

Listen to “Auction”

The official audio and official music video for “Auction” are available through the song’s official promotional releases. The published credits confirm Xpert Productions as producer, mixer and mastering engineer, with MillBeatz handling vocal production and recording.

Support Caribbean music and culture by following the artists, producers, DJs and creative teams continuing to push the region’s music forward.

Sources

Trinidad & Tobago Newsday — coverage of the Ultimate Soca Champion finals and Orlando Octave’s “Auction” performance.

Ultimate Soca Champion — official 2025 competition information and finalists.

Julianspromos — “Auction” official audio and music-video credits.

South Florida Caribbean News — coverage of the 2025 Ultimate Soca Champion finals.