:
I'd always thought that your band was misunderstood and not fully
appreciated. Or maybe people were not ready for that sound. In special
the first CD I think it really brought a new approach and a new sound
to Compas music. It is so cool from beginning to end. Let's talk about
it.
FA: You have said it all. You
just hit the nail on the head.
CC:
What I love from that CD sound is that sense of urgency, that
Crispiness and how punchy it is, and that rock guitar, man that is
cool. The drum work is so outstanding but what fascinate me the most
is the keyboard sound. It's?. wow? symphonic. That is the word I found
for it. It is so alive and powerful and in a higher note. Do you agree
on this and who was responsible for that sound Maxi or Pascal?
FA:
You get it man! Fritz, Maxi, Pascal are responsible for this, but Maxi
has done the major work because he had sequenced and arranged the
whole CD.
CC:
Also I thought it was quite impressive the female work on that CD. Are
you planning to work with them again or incorporating a choir of girls
in your band?
FA:
It depends on the situation. It is very hard also to find a female
singer in Miami. If there were one, her boyfriend or husband would be
opposed to it. Theses guys are so jealous for their girl that they
will do anything to stop the woman from joining a band. Most guys in
bands are fresh. They want to check the girls out. They don't have any
respect for girls when they are part of a band. It is suppose to be a
business, but most of our Haitian men mix it a little bit. They want
both. They want the voice and the Juice. That is not fair.
CC:
Few years later down the road and "Tout sa fe bon" came to
light. Another very, very good work full of pretty songs yet the sound
change is Unmistakable. The tempo seems to had slow down a bit and
most noticeable that incredible keyboard sound is no longer there. It
has been replaced for a more tubular keyboard sound. What brought
these changes into the music?
FA:
All of us. We decide to change it a little bit. We have to see the
trend in the music industry. What works! What doesn't. We stress on
siwel. People who pay their money for a bal have to dance. If there is
any siwel, they will not dance.
CC:
The live CD also has a sound that is a bit different from the studio
work. Were you pleased with the live CD and the sound you brought into
it?
FA:
A live CD is a live CD. Groups have to play differently from the
original CD. I was pleased with it. It is one more ways to expose a
group to the public. Some people like it, some don't. I see there is a
hunger for it nowadays. As musicians we need to be careful with that
live CD business. That can kill us to you know.
CC: Andre Desjean, what an
impressive work he did for your guys on that album! I also noticed he
worked on the live album. Are there any plans to make him a permanent
member of the band or add some live horns to the band?
FA:
I don't think he will be a permanent member of Eklips. He has its own
band, and he has his own personality. He will not join a group that is
different from his style. He can always help us whenever we ask for
it. Remember Andre Desjean is a legend in the Haitian Music industry.
CC:
There had been many changes in the band but there are musicians who
have been for the long road with you.
FA:
It happens all the time that groups change personel. It is very hard
for a group to stay together by keeping the original members.
Different strokes for different folks. Haitian music can't provide
enough bread in some musician tables. People grow up, they get
married, more responsibilities. Some of them sometimes are tired of
playing for peanuts or they quit because of personality clash. It is
not easy to control 10 or 12 men in a group. You have to keep it under
control. Most times changes are good for any organization. There is
always a need of breathe of fresh air.
CC:
When you see all those girls and boys enjoying the bal to your band
sounds what comes to your mind in regard to them?
FA:
They really like the job that the group is doing. It makes any
musician happy whenever they see people jumping. on their music.
CC:
Do you feel a sense of responsibility towards the public?
FA:
Of course, we feel a sense of responsibility toward the public. They
are the one paying to see us. As a matter of fact, all musicians need
to be aware of the public by respecting them more. I'm always get mad
whenever Eklips started late for a Bal. I always tell my members that
the public pays their money to come to see them, and they you ought to
treat them with respect by starting on time. It is also my message to
all Haitian groups "Start on time and entertain the public to the
max and they will earn more respect for their music."
CC:
Are you aware that you could directly or indirectly be a role model
for the youth?
FA:
Yes, I want to be a role model for the youth. My educational
background can tell the youth everything about me. I graduated High
School from College Bird. I have a Bachelor Bachelor degree in Math in
Education from Florida International University, MS in Computer
Education (Barry University), a Specialist degree in Math Education, a
Certification in Administration from Nova University. I'm currently a
Math teacher at Shenandoah Middle School.
I think that I have done
everything that is positive in life for a child to follow. No one can
say anything bad about Fritz Ady ( Fito the Undertaker) the musician.
The only bad thing is that I'm not lucky as Gazzman or Gracia, but
believe it or not, I'm one of the top singers in the Market. I can
play a guitar, and write music. Most the singers in the Haitian Music
don't play an instrument or write music.
They usually write songs for
them. I have produced and sang in a lot CDs in the Haitian Market:
Plen Pip, Eklips1,2, 3,4, the Best of Ti police, Background vocal in
the last Kazak etch. Have to tell you that I'm not being recognized as
I supposed to be because I'm a person modest, and I have a full time
job as a teacher.
I do not depend in music for a living. Instead of
making money in music, I loose money.. I'm one of the musicians who
change the stereotype that" all musicians se Tafiate, sans
edikasyon, zepav, vagabond, sans fiti".
CC:
Someone in Haitian connection.com just made a comment about a couple
of Haitian musicians that die of AIDS and mention how little
information is about AIDS in parts of Haiti and even in the Diaspora.
In which way you feel you the musicians could make a positive impact
on the community against this worldwide malady of our times?
FA: We can translate the
message trough their music. We can educate the public while playing a
concert or bal. They need to emphasize that ignorance is the worst
disease on earth. We need to tell them to protect themselves at all
the times by wearing " Kapot"
CC: I have heard and read a
lot in all the Compas sites and magazines about the tempo being too
slow to crossover and comments that people is what they want, even
Tabou once said that they played slower in Haitian bals than they
normally do outside. Yet when people had a room to dance they dance
not always grind but really how can we ask them to dance when the
floor is so packed and a song last 16 minutes! All over the chat rooms
people complain that songs are too long live at the bals. Yet I still
heard in bals those songs play endlessly. I think even you made a
comment in an interview to Patrick about this tempo, swivel fact. What
is happening here?
FA:
We need to change the way we play Kompa. It is too slow sometimes. If
we want our kompa to cross over, we need a fast tempo and some hits
in English. We are living in America. The youngs are coming up rapidly
into the world of Kompa. They need to see and dance to something different. The
world has evolved, why can't we? The songs also are too long in the
bals. I have seen people go back to their seat while a group is
playing. I'm sorry. The songs need to be shorter in bals.
CC:
Do you think is not the tempo of kompa but the way its play live? I
mean most bands have 6 minutes songs at the most in their CD's. Do you
think it needs to be more dynamic? Like most of you have plenty of
songs to play for hours, hit after hit.
FA:
Yes indeed. Our music is too sleepy sometimes. This is America. Bands
are still playing music as if they were living in third world
Countries. They play too slow. If I left my house because I was bored,
why should I go to entertain myself and still be bored? Let's go
fellow musicians, do something about it. The groups need to play hit
after hit. They also need to entertain the public. Don't you see
sometimes that the groups are playing and the musicians are not even
moving? We need to go to another level. How do you expect the people
who pay their money to come see you dance to the music?
CC: It seems the dance itself
was left behind in the development of the music. I mean I saw an old
video of a bal and I couldn't believe my eyes. People were doing all
kind of fast turns, steps and moves. What happened here? There is a
consensus that developing the dance will attract more outsiders. I
have seen myself some very creative and awesome Haitian dancers in
Haitian bals.
FA:
I don't know which bal that you're referring yourself to. All I know
Ayisieyn remen Peze pou lagent yo peye ya. That's why a lot of groups
play so slow.
CC:
I also think that Compas had really outgrown itself and that most of
the times it's being played in too small venues for the amount of
people that shows up and how big the sound is. I really love it when
they do bals at the large bal rooms in hotels. Everything seems so
different. What do you think about this?
FA:
There is an Economic factor. The Haitian market doesn't have big
promoters that can invest mega money in the industry. Our music is not
promoted as it supposed to be. Besides Tabou that is being recognized
world wide, no other band comes close. I said it before; we have a few
people who have a little of cash that hire bands to make a few
dollars. That is all. "Yo akrek pase sam pa konen".They are
greedy people. Our community is also poor. How do we ask a community
to come out in full, 4 nights a week from 15 to $40 a piece? Where
these people going to find this kind of money. That is one reason our
venues are so small. There is not enough money to go around for all 17
or more bands that exist in Miami. People have kids going to school,
bills to pay. There is a bigger responsibilities that going to a bal
every night. You will always see that one night outgrows the others.
CC: Festivals are really
awesome too. How do you like playing at the nice Kompa Festival in
downtown Miami?
FA:
It was fun. Eklips is always happy to participate in festivals like
that. As a matter of fact, I think that we perform better in these
venues than bals
CC:
What is going to take to make Kompa music get more respect and have
more non-Haitian people attend bals and listen to the music?
FA:
I have said that before. The bands need to produce more hits, and I
will stress in Promotions, promotions, promotions. I 'm talking about
Big promotions and every group will benefit from it.
CC: What I have seen a lot is
members of other bands attending bals and enjoying themselves there
being friends and cooperate in peace yet it seems what gets the most
ink is when there is a problem or conflict. For instance not very much
has been say about Phantoms and Sweet Mickey putting aside their
differences and I think this news should get all the ink in the world.
How do you feel about musicians, bands and promoters having
differences among them? How bad do you think this situation affects
the musical scene internationally. What solution will you give? Would
it be helpful to create an association where issues could be ventilate
and talk
about? Many times it seems the problem is nothing but a major
misunderstanding blow up of proportion.
FA:
I don't have time to discuss other people or other bands business. I
have my own problems to deal with Eklips.
CC: Thank you so very much for
the continuous attention, for the Beautiful sounds, for the joy your
guys music brought to my life and for introducing me to this beautiful
Compas world 4 years ago. We wish Eklips a great success in Paris and
forward, many blessings and great luck to you all. And your final
thoughts for the public please.
FA:
I have to thank Compas central for this opportunity given to Eklips to
express their opinions about our beautiful Kompas music. I want to
tell the public that playing Compas is very difficult. Eklips is
working vey hard to come with a new CD so they can be pleased. Be
patient. Eklips has only love for them. Stay positive and pursue your
dreams.
cdgraphy
