Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Machel Montano ( born 24 November 1974 , Trinidad and Tobago ) is a soca singer , record producer and songwriter based in the Trinidad and Tobago .
Simplified: Machel Montano ( born 24 November 1974 ) is a soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago and the lead of the soca band Xtatik .