After repeateadly asking Whats new with Mizik Mizik ? the public finally gets to hear from Mizik Mizik, Fabrice Rouzier and all the Projects he manages !
CC 1. Hello Fabrice welcome to Compas Central , 2006 has been a very busy year for haitian music in your opinion whats is the single event that stands out in your mind ?
FR . So many in different styles: Banm Afem by Barikad Crew, Sere Kozew by Zin, Lwe Kris by Djakout, Are you ready by Carimi, Korem by Kreyol lFR...
CC 2. Whats up with Mizik Mizik ?
FR. We just went into our 20th year of existence and we are still performing here and there. We have not been travelling so much because “promoters” want to hear new tracks. We have also been supporting new artists. We have a record 80% done and we’ll hopefully release it after the carnival. We’ll be performing at the Haitian Action Foundation concert alongside MEKKA GRIMO , PITBULL, BELO and SHAGGY in Ft Lauderdale and we are very honored to be once more at the Konpa Fest in Miami this coming May.
CC 3. You are considered by many people as one of the best Haitian Producers ..what makes you so good ?
FR. That is very flattering, thank you. I really don’t take myself that seriously. If I am any good, it is because I have been very fortunate to learn by watching and listening to some of the greatest in this industry. People that are often forgotten on the other side of the glass: Bobby Denis, Alex Abellard, Joel and Mushi Widmaier, John Doane R.I.P, Welmyr and Assel Jn Pierre, Yves Abel, Fanfan Ti Bot, Ritchie, Shedley Abraham, Nickenson Prudhomme, Fred Paul, Ricky Juste, Richard Cavé, Carlo Vieux, Reynaldo Martino, Joe Doré...
CC 4. How do you describe your relations with other groups ? Do you work the other groups, exchanging ideas and experiences?
FR. I have great friends in every sector of this business. I am very lucky in that sense. I work with many different people and I learn from each single jam session...
CC 5. when will a new Mizik Mizik CD released ? Why is it taking so long since the last one ?
FR. Soon :) . We’ve been busy doing so many other projects...
CC 6. What other style of music influenced you most ? ( beside compas )
FR. Everything but mostly Jazz , 80s pop, Bossa Nova, Salsa and Reggae
CC 7. How long has Mizik Mizik existed ? before or after you graduated from college and returned to haiti ? ( there is a debate on the web : wether you played with zepon and later tabou combo before you officially joined Mizik Mizik )
FR. Mizik-Mizik started officially on december 17th 1986. We picked the first day we “performed” on stage which was during the 1st Action Foundation’s Konkou Mizik sponsored by American Airlines. After I graduated in 1992, I went back to Haiti and we put the band back together.
CC 8. You have been very busy Promoting several artists : Belo , TiFane , Jude Jean , Jahnesta to name a few , what can we expect from you this year ? any new artists in the Horizon ? or new projects from your proteges ?
FR. More of the same. The first priority is with Mizik-Mizik’s new album “Mal” to be released after the carnival period. I hope to be done with the new solo by one of the best new singers out of Haiti Stanley Georges. I hope to complete a catholic hymns album. I will be doing some dates with Belo in Africa, the US and Europe and we will also start production on his second CD.
CC 9. how do you see compas , haitian music become a world music ?
FR. Konpa is very much world music. May not be as succesfull as it once was but it’s there.
CC 10. do you think language is the only barrier ?
FR. Language is not a barrier, structure discipline and organizations are.
CC 11. how do we tackle piracy in the Haitian music arena ?
FR. By protecting our works legally and by bringing forth the concept of accountability and responsibility in Haitian society. The old saying “ Ayisyen paka mache san koko makak.” seems unfortunately true.
CC 12. what are your long term goals in Music ?
FR. To have fun ! :). I’d love to see our music on more world stages. I truly think it can help bring a positive image on a tarnished community such as ours.
CC 13. Do you think the goverment can help our music progress ? and if so,how can they help ?
FR. Where can I start? We already know that they cannot bring any serious money to the table because their priorities are so many . What the artists truly need is for any Haitian government to put their political weight in the balance by enforcing laws that exist already. " We should no longer have a Ministere de La Culture that is devoted to propaganda rather than to things related to Culture " . There is so much that can be achieved with just contacts and endorsements from that government office but there has been so little sincere political will over the years.
CC 15. recently Haitian movies are getting very popular in our communities ? What do you think about our Movie industry ?
FR. I am a big fan. I think that given the budget that they work with, our directors are doing magic. We have close to zero schooled and trained actors and directors yet we discover incredible talents such as Gessica Geneus, Tonton Bicha, Richard Senecal, Wilkenson Bruna and Moise Kharmeliaud... As technology becomes more accessible, I think the sky is the limit. This is also an industry in great need of support.
CC 16. you recently travelled to cameroon with belo ...what was the response ? were there songs in creole ? and if so did it elevate any barriers between the artist and the public ?
FR. It was an incredible experience. The response was overwhelming. There is a great respect for Haitian music down there but unfortunately, they only have access to the recent products that “crossed” the boundaries like Haitian Troubadours and Carimi. The biggest Haitian names over there are Tabou Combo, Coupe Cloue and Claudette et Ti Pierre ! Haitian labels are generally only concerned by the few traditional markets like the Haitian diaspora and the french antilles. That is a huge mistake. Zouk is really big there because they make the efforts. The songs were all in Creole but the music did the job...not the language.
CC Xtra There are many haitian websites promoting haitian music what must their role be ? if they should help the music reach the world audience Nemours Jean-Baptiste wanted ?
FR. I have to give props to all the websites promoting Haitian music. Most of you guys do not get any monetary compensation and you just do it for the love of the music. One word of caution though: Whatever is written on music boards should not be used as source material for news about Haitian music. I am very surprised to hear on the radio or read in the papers “garbage” that was just posted on x or z ‘s message board by anonymous posters with hidden agendas. I think that this is both irresponsible and lazy on the part of the media using these sources. I also think that most musicians should worry more about putting out quality music rather than spend most of their energy online !
CC 17. What Do you think should an artist responsibilty towards his public should be ?
FR. To be as authentic as he can be and to try and bring his A game to every situation.
CC 17. Xtra. Wyclef seems to be everywhere what do you think his efforts can bring to haitian music in general ?
FR. Wyclef does extraordinary things for Haiti and for music in general. I know he is restructuring his sakpase record label and has big things in store. Let’s wait and hope that something develops. If he has been able to bring about the best in countless world superstars, I bet he can do it for Haitian artists as well?
CC 18.Whats Going on With Haiti Twoubadou ? any Live performance or new albums in the Future ?
FR. Not much. We have been too busy with other stuff. We have been requested to do other shows. It’s hard to get everyone together. This year we’ll do shows labeled as Mizik-Mizik and friends and not do just twoubadou but konpa, reggae, folk and rasin.
CC 19. What about Fabrice the family Man ? are you married ? do you have Children ? You are so busy ? how is your family life impacted by all this ?
FR. I am blessed in that field man. I have been married to a beautiful woman inside and out and God has blessed our union with two beautiful girls. Thank God, my wife and kids understand the importance of music in my life and the balance it brings to my personality.
CC 20. As always what is the message to the children ? our countrymen ? you guys have so much clout with the public ... is there anything artists can do to help this country get out of this impasse ?
FR. That’s a tough one. Our country has 65% of the population under 18 years old and there has been no real government initiative or long term plan for the youth ever...Has there ever been a government with a defined plan in my 39 years in Haiti???? Nevertheless, rich or poor, kids should stay away from drugs and at least try and stay away from criminality. I cannot tell the kids to stay in school because most of these 65% do not have access to proper schools or to any at all. It is a sad sad situation... Haitian artists have spoken to their countrymen in so many ways that it would be superfluous to once again talk to them about nation building, progress and moral values. Haitians have designed the most beautiful plans and speeches and have never put them in action. My message is : Stop talking and take some ACTION NOW !
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