For over three decades, Zenglen has been one of the most influential compas bands, delivering timeless hits and electrifying performances while staying true to the essence of compas direct. Yet, despite their dedication, the band finds itself in an ongoing cycle of change, with frequent lineup shifts, new album releases, and continued attempts to reinvent itself. The recent departure of lead singer Emmy Nixon Louis (EmmyNix) in February 2025 and the return of former member Fréro Jean-Baptiste raise an important question: What exactly is the problem?
A Band in Constant Transition
Zenglen’s struggles are not due to a lack of effort. The band has consistently made moves to stay relevant, bringing in fresh talent, releasing albums almost every couple of years, and producing high-quality music videos. In 2024 alone, the band was highly active:
- Album Release: In July 2024, they dropped their 15th studio album, Happy 69th Compas, paying tribute to compas direk creator Nemours Jean-Baptiste.
- Music Video Premiere: In November 2024, they released a video for their track Kon’n Saw Vo, featuring their latest member, Isimic (Jean Renaud Isidor).
- Major Performances: They performed internationally, including a major show in Paris, proving their enduring appeal.
- Constant Lineup Changes: Over the past few years, the band has rotated through several singers, including Shoomy (Minouche Chouloute, who joined in 2023) and Isimic, who came in 2024 but was notably absent from their Paris performance in early 2025.
Despite these efforts, Zenglen still struggles to maintain consistency and stability. The frequent departures of key members and the need to repeatedly “reintroduce” the band have become a pattern.
The Leadership and Management Dilemma
Zenglen has a history of talented musicians passing through its ranks, yet few seem to stay long-term. While other compas bands such as Klass and Nu-Look have maintained stable lineups and strong fan bases, Zenglen appears to face internal challenges that prevent them from building the same level of continuity.
One possible issue is the management structure and decision-making process. The band has tried multiple strategies whether bringing back former members like Fréro Jean-Baptiste, or introducing fresh voices like EmmyNix and Isimic but these changes haven’t resulted in long-term stability. What’s causing these repeated exits? Are there internal disagreements, financial disputes, or creative differences at play?
The Pressure to Stay Relevant
The compas music industry is constantly evolving, and staying relevant is no easy feat. Zenglen has worked hard to maintain its presence by consistently producing music, but the industry itself may be another factor contributing to their struggles.
- Fans have high expectations, especially when it comes to live performances and studio production quality.
- The competitive nature of the compas industry means that other bands with consistent lineups are more appealing to audiences.
- The band’s identity crisis shifting between different lead singers and sounds, may be affecting their ability to maintain a loyal following.
Fréro Jean-Baptiste’s Return: A Solution or Another Temporary Fix?
With EmmyNix’s departure, Zenglen is once again banking on a former member to bring stability. Fréro Jean-Baptiste, a dynamic performer with a powerful stage presence, is set to officially rejoin the band on March 1, 2025, in New York City. His return might excite longtime fans, but will it truly fix the deeper issues plaguing Zenglen?
Bringing back old members is a strategy that has worked before, but history suggests that it’s often a short-term solution rather than a permanent fix. If underlying structural and management issues aren’t addressed, Zenglen may find itself repeating this cycle again in a year or two.
Where Does Zenglen Go from Here?
Zenglen remains a musical institution, a band that has trained and nurtured some of the biggest talents in compas music. However, the challenges they face cannot be ignored. If the band hopes to break free from this cycle, they need to reassess their leadership, vision, and internal dynamics.
Can Zenglen finally build a stable lineup and reclaim their dominance in the compas scene? Or will the band continue to operate in survival mode, constantly trying to “fix” itself with new faces? The next few years will be crucial in determining whether Zenglen can truly regain its footing or remain in a perpetual state of transition.
For now, all eyes are on Fréro Jean-Baptiste’s return. Will this be the breakthrough Zenglen needs or just another chapter in their ongoing search for stability?
Ki sa k ap pase ak Zenglen?
Pou plis pase trant lane, Zenglen se youn nan pi gwo gwoup konpa yo, bay fanatik yo mizik san tan ak pèfòmans ki bay frison pandan y ap kenbe esans konpa direk la. Men, malgre tout efò yo, gwoup la pa janm reyèlman jwenn estabilite. Yo toujou ap chanje mizisyen, lage nouvo albòm, epi eseye refè tèt yo.
Dènye chanjman an fèt nan fevriye 2025, lè chantè prensipal Emmy Nixon Louis (EmmyNix) kite gwoup la, epi ansyen manm Fréro Jean-Baptiste retounen. Sa poze yon gwo kesyon:
Ki sa ki pwoblèm Zenglen reyèlman genyen?
Yon Gwoup Ki Pa Janm Reyèlman Fiks
Pwoblèm Zenglen yo pa soti nan mank efò. Gwoup la toujou ap travay di pou kenbe non yo vivan, mete nouvo mizisyen, lage albòm, epi pwodwi bèl videyo mizik. Pandan 2024, gwoup la te trè aktif:
Nouvo Albòm: Nan jiyè 2024, yo lage 15yèm albòm yo, Happy 69th Compas, kòm yon omaj a Nemours Jean-Baptiste, kreyatè konpa direk.
Nouvo Videyo: Nan novanm 2024, yo lage yon videyo pou mizik Kon’n Saw Vo, kote yo prezante nouvo manm yo, Isimic (Jean Renaud Isidor).
Gwo Pèfòmans: Yo te jwe sou sèn entènasyonal, tankou yon gwo konsè nan Paris ki montre yo toujou gen yon baz fanatik solid.
Chanjman Manm Kontinye: Pandan dènye ane yo, yo pase plizyè chantè tankou Shoomy (Schubert Abraham) ki te vin nan 2023, epi Isimic ki te rantre nan 2024, men li te pa menm parèt nan pèfòmans Paris la an 2025.
Malgre tout sa, Zenglen toujou gen pwoblèm kenbe menm ekip la ansanm. Chak 2-3 ane, gen yon lòt chanjman, yon lòt rantre-soti.
Pwoblèm Lidèchip ak Jesyon
Zenglen gen anpil mizisyen talan ki pase nan gwoup la, men trè kèk ladan yo rete pou lontan. Lòt gwoup konpa tankou Klass ak Nu-Look kenbe menm ekip pandan plizyè lane, sa ki pèmèt yo bati yon baz fanatik fidèl. Men, poukisa Zenglen pa ka fè menm bagay la?
Gen plizyè kesyon ki poze:
Èske gen pwoblèm anndan ekip la?
Èske gen dezakò sou finans oswa desizyon mizikal?
Èske se pwoblèm jesyon ki fè manm yo pa rete lontan?
Yo eseye divès estrateji, tankou retounen ansyen manm (egzanp: Fréro Jean-Baptiste) oswa mete nouvo vwa (tankou EmmyNix ak Isimic), men li pa janm sanble yo jwenn solisyon pou dire lontan.
Presyon Pou Rete Enpòtan
Endistri konpa a ap chanje chak jou, epi li pa fasil pou kenbe popilarite ou. Zenglen fè anpil efò pou yo pa pèdi plas yo, men gen lòt bagay ki ka mete yo an difikilte:
Fanatik yo gen gwo atant – Moun vle gwo pèfòmans sou sèn ak albòm ki byen pwodwi.
Gwoup ki stab yo gen plis avantaj – Gwoup ki kenbe menm manm pandan lontan yo gen pi bon koneksyon ak fanatik yo.
Gwoup la pèdi idantite li chak fwa yo chanje chantè – Chak fwa yo mete yon nouvo chantè, son gwoup la chanje, sa ka fè yo pèdi fanatik.
Retou Fréro Jean-Baptiste: Yon Solisyon oswa Yon Solisyon Tanporè?
Apre EmmyNix kite gwoup la, Zenglen mete espwa yo ankò sou yon ansyen manm. Fréro Jean-Baptiste, yon chantè ki gen bèl prezans sou sèn, ap retounen ofisyèlman sou 1ye mas 2025 nan New York City. Sa ka fè ansyen fanatik yo kontan, men eske sa ka rezoud pwoblèm reyèl Zenglen genyen?
Nou deja wè ke retounen ansyen manm ka travay, men li pa janm sanble li rezoud pwoblèm yo pou de bon. Si Zenglen pa adrese pwoblèm estriktirèl ak jesyon yo, yo ka jwenn tèt yo nan menm sitiyasyon an ankò nan 1-2 zan.
Ki sa k ap pase apre?
Zenglen se pa jis yon bann, li se yon enstitisyon. Yo fòme anpil mizisyen ki vin vin tounen gwo figi nan HMI a. Men, yo pa ka inyore pwoblèm yo genyen yo.
Si yo vle sispann repete mòd chanjman san rete sa a, yo dwe re-evalye lidèchip ak direksyon gwoup la.
Èske yo ka bati yon ekip ki fiks?
Èske yo ka reprann plas yo kòm yon bann ki dominan nan HMI a?
Oswa yo ap kontinye viv nan enstabilite, chanje manm chak 2-3 zan?
Tout moun ap gade retou Fréro Jean-Baptiste pou wè si li pral mete bann lan sou bon chimen oswa si sa se yon lòt tantativ tanporè pou mete dlo sou dife.
Zenglen gen tan pou ranje bagay yo—men èske yo pwal fè sa? Nou tout ap tann!
