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African Heritage Magazine: December 1999 Issue

" Tout Sa'n Fe Bon" Everything is Cool"

There are many great live Kompa acts in South Florida. There's D'ZINE, ZENGLEN, and our featured band. This month, we chattered with, and took in a show by the local bad boys of Kompa, EKLIPS. As you'll soon know, their reputation doesn't come from gangsta' lyrics. It comes from the women they attract to their shows.. Perhaps they should be called: " The playboys Of Kompa.
Our Story begins with a phone call to a club..." Eklips isn't playing at RED ZONE this evening," I am told." it seems that all live bands have been barred from the bar due to a violent disturbance a few weeks back. " That' sucks! " I think to myself. I wonder if this is a racial thing. I don't remember last time they stop exhibiting live music at a rock venue because of a barroom brawl. ... A few phone calls later I found out where EKLIPS is playing this evening. They are at the Seas in North Miami Beach. I' am told they go on about 2:30 or 1:00 am. Shit, that's kind of late, but my journalistic instincts take over, and five expressos Later I'am there.
It's 12:30, but the band has already been playing for almost one hour. If I would have known I would have only had three expressos. I stand around to get the vibes. Haitians love to dress nicely. The gentlemen are attired and sporty, nice clothes. The honeys are dressed to kill. I' am immediately aroused, but know that I don't have a chance in hell cause I can't dance worth a shit. Oh well.. I start to snap pictures of the band. They are also well dressed and groomed.
They are a boat load of guys jamming away, and a thin, dark gentleman in a white suit as a front man." Hey , he is wearing a pair of two tone shoes like the ones I used to have way back in the day, " I reminisce. I like this guy already. There is a sexy looking, gyrating young lady singing background along side the lead singer. I like this. Whoa.. but three songs later a new young lady comes up to take the place of the first. Dark and sexy, she fills the air with appropriate harmonies." Why the switch?" I wonder. I also am intrigued by my sociological subjects. Why do they wait until two and a half minutes into the song to start dancing. ," my thoughts patterns regurgitate. I'm perplexed, and continue to snap pictures. the drummers bring syncopation with a blues scale during a Kompa jam . My caffeine rush is now for another hour. I depart. Au revoir.
I contact the appropriate sources to secure an interview with the lead singer/front man of the band. A couple of days later we rendez-vous at Boujoly Records, a North Miami Record Store around which, it seems, all local Haitian music revolves. I am greeted cordially , and whisked away to the back room so I can begin my interview of Fritz Ady.
Fritz is the lead singer and co-lyricist of the group. I find out that Eklips has existed since 1992, although since then, the staff has undergone several changes. The original band members are Fritz, Maxi, and Pascal, and are completed by Carl, Josh, Givre, Earnest, Roosevelt, and Philo. These are all working men in the band. Their careers range from Auto Mechanic to math teacher in the public school system. Like most bands, they depend on touring and live performances for income, since air play and Cd sale royalties are less than dick( my quote) in the Haitian Market.
They subsidize their own recording at well known studios. They bankroll their own CD releases. They self-produced their music. They struggle with rehearsal schedules that have to fit their working class lifestyle they all lead. They, along with manager Zeke Mathias, book their club dates, locally and nationally,a and international. They persevere, and have become one of the top Haitian acts in South Florida. They is the key word here folks. All by themselves. OK. Any anyway, let's get back to the music in question... Kompa.
I find out that Kompa songs can easily run into the 6 minutes range. This is because ever since its invention, the music was made to dance to. Party to. But only if the lights are dimmed. This is because Haitians are kind of shy." You could throw a party with the best music ever, and hundreds of people there, but if you don't turn down the lights, people will Not dance, " Fritz States." Also, I think that Haitian men and women go to these club with people other than their love ones. So a well lit place is not good for them. But, of course, I'am not sure of that, Fritz says laughingly. No wonder everybody turned their face away from the camera when I was snapping shots. While the lyrics that Eklips puts in their tunes vary from love songs to very cerebral protests, people still put on Kompa to dance, not so much to think. I attempt to remember if I ever heard any cerebral songs during the Disco era. I can only remember two.
Why the reputation as the bad boys of Kompa?" I prod. " It's because of the mix of modern Kompa with a hint of HIP HOP, and even some English lyrics. This type of music goes over well with the Miami Haitian audience," says Fritz I find out that US. Haitians tend to be more educated, affluent, and exposed to other types of music, whereas, Haitians in Haiti are less apt to have been exposed to other musical genres. Eklips has pushed the boundaries and has help to stimulate a resurgence in the popularity of this Haitian typical music. I thought Kompa was Kompa," I stupidly volunteer.I'am chastised. Ok here is a quick definition of modern Kompa: Modern Kompa is played at the same tempo as the traditional style, but the lyrics are done in double time, thus letting the lyrics say twice as much in the same amount of time.
What about the honeys that were singing background?" My hormones begging me to ask."Oh, we were just trying them out for background, " Fritz says laughing and winking . I discover that women are really the reason they have developed this reputation. Apparently females flock to see this sexy young band with the danceable music. I respect that.. That explains the overabundance of brown skinned beauties at 7 Seas the other night. Fritz sums up the band 's Philosophy in four words(although it could be five words... my Kreyol sucks):
Greatest experiences of the band:
Playing to a sold crowd FIU concert crowd." It was moving. We all chewed up, and did not expect the great reaction that we got. They were all there to see and dance to us.
Shittiest experience as band: Playing to no one. We were contracted to play a private party on a Sunday night. i hate a a feeling about it. A few hour hours later in to the party, only our manager and the people that organized the party were there. Since we had gotten paid, we had to play anyway."
By: L.R. Perez


			" Tout Sa'n Fe Bon" Everything is Cool"
There are many great live Kompa acts in South Florida. There's D'ZINE, ZENGLEN, and our featured band. This month, we chattered with, and took in a show by the local bad boys of Kompa, EKLIPS. As you'll soon know, their reputation doesn't come from gangsta' lyrics. It comes from the women they attract to their shows.. Perhaps they should be called: " The playboys Of Kompa. Our Story begins with a phone call to a club..." Eklips isn't playing at RED ZONE this evening," I am told." it seems that all live bands have been barred from the bar due to a violent disturbance a few weeks back. " That' sucks! " I think to myself. I wonder if this is a racial thing. I don't remember last time they stop exhibiting live music at a rock venue because of a barroom brawl. ... A few phone calls later I found out where EKLIPS is playing this evening. They are at the Seas in North Miami Beach. I' am told they go on about 2:30 or 1:00 am. Shit, that's kind of late, but my journalistic instincts take over, and five expressos Later I'am there. It's 12:30, but the band has already been playing for almost one hour. If I would have known I would have only had three expressos. I stand around to get the vibes. Haitians love to dress nicely. The gentlemen are attired and sporty, nice clothes. The honeys are dressed to kill. I' am immediately aroused, but know that I don't have a chance in hell cause I can't dance worth a shit. Oh well.. I start to snap pictures of the band. They are also well dressed and groomed. They are a boat load of guys jamming away, and a thin, dark gentleman in a white suit as a front man." Hey , he is wearing a pair of two tone shoes like the ones I used to have way back in the day, " I reminisce. I like this guy already. There is a sexy looking, gyrating young lady singing background along side the lead singer. I like this. Whoa.. but three songs later a new young lady comes up to take the place of the first. Dark and sexy, she fills the air with appropriate harmonies." Why the switch?" I wonder. I also am intrigued by my sociological subjects. Why do they wait until two and a half minutes into the song to start dancing. ," my thoughts patterns regurgitate. I'm perplexed, and continue to snap pictures. the drummers bring syncopation with a blues scale during a Kompa jam . My caffeine rush is now for another hour. I depart. Au revoir. I contact the appropriate sources to secure an interview with the lead singer/front man of the band. A couple of days later we rendez-vous at Boujoly Records, a North Miami Record Store around which, it seems, all local Haitian music revolves. I am greeted cordially , and whisked away to the back room so I can begin my interview of Fritz Ady. Fritz is the lead singer and co-lyricist of the group. I find out that Eklips has existed since 1992, although since then, the staff has undergone several changes. The original band members are Fritz, Maxi, and Pascal, and are completed by Carl, Josh, Givre, Earnest, Roosevelt, and Philo. These are all working men in the band. Their careers range from Auto Mechanic to math teacher in the public school system. Like most bands, they depend on touring and live performances for income, since air play and Cd sale royalties are less than dick( my quote) in the Haitian Market. They subsidize their own recording at well known studios. They bankroll their own CD releases. They self-produced their music. They struggle with rehearsal schedules that have to fit their working class lifestyle they all lead. They, along with manager Zeke Mathias, book their club dates, locally and nationally,a and international. They persevere, and have become one of the top Haitian acts in South Florida. They is the key word here folks. All by themselves. OK. Any anyway, let's get back to the music in question... Kompa.			I find out that Kompa songs can easily run into the 6 minutes range. This is because ever since its invention, the music was made to dance to. Party to. But only if the lights are dimmed. This is because Haitians are kind of shy." You could throw a party with the best music ever, and hundreds of people there, but if you don't turn down the lights, people will Not dance, " Fritz States." Also, I think that Haitian men and women go to these club with people other than their love ones. So a well lit place is not good for them. But, of course, I'am not sure of that, Fritz says laughingly. No wonder everybody turned their face away from the camera when I was snapping shots. While the lyrics that Eklips puts in their tunes vary from love songs to very cerebral protests, people still put on Kompa to dance, not so much to think. I attempt to remember if I ever heard any cerebral songs during the Disco era. I can only remember two. Why the reputation as the bad boys of Kompa?" I prod. " It's because of the mix of modern Kompa with a hint of HIP HOP, and even some English lyrics. This type of music goes over well with the Miami Haitian audience," says Fritz I find out that US. Haitians tend to be more educated, affluent, and exposed to other types of music, whereas, Haitians in Haiti are less apt to have been exposed to other musical genres. Eklips has pushed the boundaries and has help to stimulate a resurgence in the popularity of this Haitian typical music. I thought Kompa was Kompa," I stupidly volunteer.I'am chastised. Ok here is a quick definition of modern Kompa: Modern Kompa is played at the same tempo as the traditional style, but the lyrics are done in double time, thus letting the lyrics say twice as much in the same amount of time. What about the honeys that were singing background?" My hormones begging me to ask."Oh, we were just trying them out for background, " Fritz says laughing and winking . I discover that women are really the reason they have developed this reputation. Apparently females flock to see this sexy young band with the danceable music. I respect that.. That explains the overabundance of brown skinned beauties at 7 Seas the other night. Fritz sums up the band 's Philosophy in four words(although it could be five words... my Kreyol sucks): Greatest experiences of the band: Playing to a sold crowd FIU concert crowd." It was moving. We all chewed up, and did not expect the great reaction that we got. They were all there to see and dance to us. Shittiest experience as band: Playing to no one. We were contracted to play a private party on a Sunday night. i hate a a feeling about it. A few hour hours later in to the party, only our manager and the people that organized the party were there. Since we had gotten paid, we had to play anyway." By: L.R. Perez