In a recent interview with Opa Music, Brutus, one of the leaders of the renowned Haitian music band Zenglen, addressed the mixed reactions to their latest CD. The new album has sparked controversy among fans and HMI (Haitian Music Industry) personalities, with some criticizing its lack of commercial appeal and street sound, or “son lari ya.”
Brutus responded candidly to these criticisms, stating, “One of the criticisms we’ve been hearing is that the Zenglen CD is not commercial enough or ‘li pa gen son lari ya.’ Well, one thing about Zenglen is that we’ve always been a leader in the HMI, not a follower. We create music for the public to fall in love with. With this latest CD, we created something new that’s going to take time for the public to get used to. We did not want to continue the ‘son lari’ trend.”
He further explained that many of the critics had not even listened to the entire album and suggested that some of the negativity might be driven by personal agendas. Brutus emphasized the band’s dedication to musical excellence, asserting, “Of all the CDs that Zenglen has released in the past, musically speaking, this one has reached the highest level. When you look at bands like Magnum Band, Les Freres Dejean, and Caribbean Sextet, those bands are still ahead of our current bands musically, even though they haven’t been producing for a while now. The public needs some time with this Zenglen CD, and believe me, give it 4-5 months, and you’ll start hearing a different story.”
The conversation also touched on the performance of Kenny, the band’s new lead singer, whose delivery has received mixed reviews. Brutus defended Kenny’s abilities, pointing out the band’s history of introducing talented singers who initially faced resistance. “One thing about Richie and me, we know how to select good musicians, and I can tell you Kenny is a mega singer,” he stated. Brutus recalled past experiences with singers like Gracia and Reginald Cange, who were initially met with skepticism but eventually won over fans.
He also highlighted Kenny’s credentials, mentioning that renowned artists like Alan Cave and King Kino have called on Kenny to replace them at gigs when they couldn’t attend, which speaks volumes about his talent. Brutus dismissed some of the criticism as stemming from personal biases against Kenny rather than genuine musical concerns.
Despite the controversy, Brutus revealed that Zenglen’s new CD is currently the most requested in Haiti. The band is gearing up for a summer tour in Haiti, where they hope to further showcase their latest work and win over skeptics. As the band prepares for their upcoming tour, Brutus encourages fans to give the album a chance and watch how perceptions change over time. ~Cheyna Pierre
