Author: Opastaff
This year marks Compas Direct’s 59th year anniversary and what a year its been for the Haitian music industry. It was definitely an interesting year. 2014 brought a lot of great moments and a few not so great depending on which side of the spectrum you were on. We’ll get into the winners and losers in a bit; in the meantime; without a doubt the Compas Direct fans were the ones winning this year. The year started off with Haitians worldwide celebrating Haiti’s 210th year of independence on January 1st , the month also marked the 4th year anniversary of the…
1. People change. This is so obvious but it’s the leading cause of friendship death in your twenties so we must acknowledge it. You don’t know who you are at the age of twenty but you gravitate towards who makes the most sense in that moment. Then, as you get more of a handle on yourself and what kinds of people you actually want to surround yourself with, you make necessary changes. You cut the fat. You bid farewell to those who no longer fit. This is perhaps the hardest kind of friendship loss to weather because there’s no one…
The New York Based Band MELODI is pleased to announce the release of their much anticipated FIRST album “NOU RIVE” MELODI is pleased to announce the arrival of its FIRST studio album appropriately titled “NOU RIVE”. The new up and coming Haitian Music Industry (HMI) band’s long-awaited debut album, “Nou Rive” (we’ve arrived) is a musical journey crafted with everyday life situations; it touches topics of love, inspiration, self-reflection, heartbreak and humor making it relatable and easily connects with listeners of all ages. The full-length recording comprises thirteen new, original tracks and is currently available via digital download from online retailers ranging from iTunes, CDbaby…
Ricot “Ti Tanbou” Amazan, announce his resignation as T-Vice Conga Drum Player, effective immediately. It is with a heavy heart today that I announce my resignation from the band T-Vice. A band I’ve dedicated a great portion of my life to for the past three years. The decision to resign didn’t come easy however in the past few months my priorities have shifted. There are some very special people in my life that I’ve been neglecting and the time has come for me to make up for lost times. I want to take a break from the Haitian music industry to focus…
Former Haitian saxophonist of the musical group “Les Shleu Shleu” Tony Moïse, 75, originally from Côtes de Fer, died following cardiovascular problems. In a press release Josette Darguste, the Acting Minister of Culture, said she was saddened by this cruel and regrettable loss. “The disappearance of this singer, saxophonist and composer with unparalleled talent surprises us and breaks our hearts since we did not know he was sick. Until recently, he continued to distil, via social networks, for the delight of bulimic consumers of Compas, the legendary compositions of the rich discography of his orchestra of heart, the “Shleu Shleu”,…
The twelve tracks on the album Viktwa (Victory) from the group DiSip De Gazzman Couleur range for hyped-up, danceable numbers to sublime ballads. Shall we start with the danceable numbers? There’s “Forever”, a track that celebrates true love. Forever’s message is basically this: a man has no purpose without a woman behind him. Lead singer Gazzman Pierre sings: Mwen pa janm wè’m san ou… Se bò kote’m mwen jwenn fòs avèk espwa Mwen pa vle viv san ou I never see myself without you Only at your side do I get my hope and strength I don’t have any intentions of existing…
The Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree Music Festival has officially announced the lineup for its International-themed opening night, part of the highly anticipated three-day celebration of Caribbean culture, cuisine, fashion, and music. Set to take place over Labor Day Weekend, from Friday, August 30, to Sunday, September 1, 2013, at the iconic Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the festival promises an unforgettable experience. Friday’s “International Night” will shine a spotlight on the French-speaking Caribbean Diaspora, featuring performances by some of the most influential Konpa and Zouk artists. The night will be headlined by the award-winning Wyclef Jean, whose eclectic mix…
1. To feel like your hero We don’t want to be your Clark Kent. We want to be your Superman. We want you to see us as leaping tall buildings in a single bound and catching bullets. We want to carry you in our arms and show you the world. Or at least feel that way. And I know it’s our job to get there, but nothing gives us more strength than a woman who creates a space that makes us feel invincible. If you make us feel invincible, we’ll make you feel like you’re the most beautiful creature on…
A popular figure in the Haitian music industry, on the run from detectives who wanted to talk to him about the recent murder of his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, shot himself to death in a Northeast Miami-Dade apartment Tuesday night, as police closed in on the building. New York City police think Joseph Kernizan, a music promoter, gunned down Tracy Bennett and her lover, veteran Jamaican dancehall artist Captain Barkey in the parking lot of a Bronx motel Saturday. The U.S. Marshals’ fugitive taskforce followed Kernizan’s trail from New York to a two-story apartment building on Northwest 157th Street and…
In January 2011, Haiti felt a shockwave that reverberated far beyond its shores. Jean-Claude Duvalier, the infamous “Baby Doc,” returned from a 25-year exile, not with the notorious Michele Bennett who had once stood by his side but with another woman entirely. This return wasn’t just a step back onto Haitian soil; it was a plunge back into the dark waters of a troubled past. For those who remember the CBS report by Ed Bradley in 1986, the images of Michele Bennett—lavish, detached, a queen of excess—are unforgettable. It was Michele who, amidst the crippling poverty of Haiti, refrigerated an…