Author: Opastaff
The debut album from MANMZEL, titled “On The Beat”, offers a diverse collection of tracks that reflect the band’s unique blend of musical influences. Featuring members from Haiti, St. Lucia, Israel, Italy, and the UK, the all-female group showcases a variety of styles ranging from Compas and Zouk to Pop, Rock, and R&B. As a listener with an open mind, here is a detailed breakdown of what this eclectic album has to offer. 1) INTRO The album begins with a jazzy 10-second intro that subtly introduces the group with the line “Manmzel, a new female band.” It’s a brief but…
New York- King Kino is perhaps the most controversial and influential figure in the music industry of the past ten years! King Kino, the lead singer of the Haitian konpa group “Move Move”, has been making music and performing for almost two decades with his former group “Phantoms” His candid opinions on many issues, that no other artists have dared to touch on, are often bound to generate a lot of controversies in the community. King Kino’s alleged recent remarks following a heated radio interview and allegations of racist comments directed toward light complexion Haitian konpa group have landed him…
The highly anticipated Djakout Mizik and Nu Look showdown on Saturday ended in chaos, and promoter Wes Productions is pointing the finger squarely at Nu Look for the events that led to the fiasco. In an exclusive interview, Wes detailed the behind-the-scenes tensions and disagreements that contributed to the night’s unfortunate turn of events. Wes explained that he had a clear agreement with both bands before the event, with Nu Look scheduled to open the show. However, three weeks after receiving the deposit, Arly Larivière, Nu Look’s maestro, contacted Wes insisting that Nu Look close the show instead. “He was…
After weeks of speculation and criticism, Nu Look maestro Arly Larivière has finally spoken out about the controversy surrounding the song “Cookie” from the band’s new CD. The song, which has raised eyebrows for its seemingly provocative lyrics about an underage girl, has been a hot topic in the Haitian Music Industry (HMI). In an exclusive conversation, Arly offered his perspective on the matter. Addressing the controversy head-on, Arly said, “Well, THAT’S WHAT IT IS. It’s a story written by M. Lubin over music I composed. I already had the music since the last Nu Look studio album, but I…
In response to the controversy surrounding the Djakout Mizik/Nu Look party fiasco in New York on December 31st, Nu Look maestro Arly Larivière has shared his side of the story, shedding light on what led to the disagreement and subsequent fallout. According to Arly, the situation was mishandled by the event’s promoter, Wes, and the version of events told by the promoter does not accurately reflect what transpired. Arly explained, “When I am in the wrong, I stay quiet. But when I feel I am being judged unfairly, I speak up.” He firmly believes that Nu Look was misrepresented in…
Julien Paul (1927-2005), a seminal figure in the Haitian Music Industry (HMI) and a pioneering Konpa Direk singer and composer, passed away on December 29, 2005, in Haiti due to complications from prostate cancer. His passing was under the watchful care of his wife, shortly after his return to Haiti on December 6. Paul’s death marks a significant loss for the music community, as confirmed by his son, Julien Paul Jr. A founding member of Ensemble Aux Caballes and Ensemble Nemours Jean Baptiste, Paul was renowned for his rich, mellow voice and his charm as a musician. He initially gained…
It seems that a pre-show disagreement between members of Djakout Mizik and Nu Look nearly overshadowed their highly anticipated performance in New York last night. According to sources, the two powerhouse bands got into a heated argument at their hotel, with the issue being which group would have the honor of closing the event. On Nu Look’s side, Arly Larivière and Gazzman Couleur led the conversation, while Djakout’s vocal leader Roro, along with Pouchon and Shabba, represented their group. Although tensions were high, no physical altercations occurred. However, it was clear that both sides were adamant about their position. Arly…
System Band Returns to Haiti with a New Line-Up and Fresh Energy After a year-long hiatus from their homeland, System Band is making a triumphant return to Haiti, thanks to the efforts of promoter Ernst Barjon, also known as Ti Fanfan. The end-of-year tour comes at a crucial time for the band, which had been struggling with declining attendance at its events before their break. In a press conference held on December 29th in Pétion-Ville, Isnard Douby addressed the challenges that led to the band’s temporary downturn. Key issues included the illness of Ti Mitou, the relocation of Ernst Vincent…
A heated dispute between Sweet Micky and promoter Jean Eddy Bazile reportedly led to a near riot at a New Jersey bal on Sunday night. According to sources, tensions had been brewing between the two since a performance the night before in Boston, where Sweet Micky was unable to perform due to an alleged ban in the area. The incident began when Sweet Micky and T-Vice were scheduled to perform in Boston. However, due to the ban, Sweet Micky was reportedly forced to sit out, leaving T-Vice to handle the night’s performance solo. Despite his inability to perform, Sweet Micky…