4/12/18 4/12/18

Jason Derulo Releases Video For World Cup Song

Illustrating breathtaking views of and from La Citadelle Laferrière, a beautiful castle on the northern part of Haiti, Jason Derulo (whose real name is Jason Joel Desrouleaux), released the official music video for “Colors,” Coca-Cola’s anthem for the FIFA World Cup this summer. With shots also from Derulo's hometown in Miami, Florida, the video's intent is to bring individuals together from around the world to celebrate their respective flags and nationalities. A guitar-strumming Wyclef Jean, also of Haitian descent, also represents his “colors” in a cameo as well.Derulo said of the song that, “Through my years of travel, I’ve been able to see the beauty in our cultural differences and I wrote Colors to celebrate that diversity and be a part of the amazing energy that sports fans around the world give to their teams.”"There’s beauty in the unity we’ve found.We’re inundated everyday with negative news and it’s hard to remain positive... That’s why it’s more important than ever to unite with people in your community to try and make a difference. As a Haitian-American, I’ve become more and more invested in giving back to where my family is from. To that extent, this song is a bit of a launch of plans that I am excited to reveal soon…”

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW...

If you aren't very familiar with Jason Derulo, here are some cool facts:

He is a multi-platinum powerhouse who has generated over 9 billion audio streams.
His breakout single “Talk Dirty” [feat. 2 Chainz] has reached 7-times platinum status
Want To Want Me” and “Wiggle” [feat. Snoop Dogg] went quadruple-platinum.
“Trumpets,” “Ridin’ Solo,” and “In My Head” went triple-platinum
"Swalla,” “Marry Me,” and “It Girl” earned double-platinum certifications.
Platinum singles include “The Other Side,” “Get Ugly,” and “Don’t Wanna Go Home.”
Cumulative streams continue to soar, exceeding 9 billion overall and nearly 5 billion YouTube view
At radio, his music has impacted 20 billion-plus listeners with a staggering 3.5 billion spins.
Derulo was also a featured performer for the Monday Night Football theme
His clothing line LVL XIII launched in Bloomingdales last Fall
He has a label in partnership with Warner Bros. Records and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.
He is an investor in many enterprises, including Catch L.A. and Rumble Boxing with Sylvester Stallone and Ashton Kutcher.

By: Tammy for Haitiville.com | April 13, 2018(Photos from "Colors" music video)

11/20/17 11/20/17

Why Jazz Lovers Should Travel To Haiti For This Unique Musical Experience

A trumpeter at the Catts Pressoir Music School during PapJazz.

Haiti might be off the beaten path, but it's home to one of the most unique music festival experiences around. Into its 12th edition, the annual Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival, also known as PapJazz, is back and better than ever this January 2018.The event is opening the world to seeing the country's special culture and the genre of jazz music in a new light. From after hours jam sessions at some of the best local restaurants in the capital city to hit Haitian-born DJ, Michael Brun, dropping a dance influenced set, expect an unexpected combination of sounds to come together. Instead of planning for your usual festivals, dare to go somewhere different. To get a deeper understanding of what attendees can look forward to, I spoke with the foundation's manager, Milena Sandler, who made it clear why this is a can't miss adventure.Isis Briones: What was the inspiration behind the PapJazz? Milena Sandler: "It came naturally to musician and President of the Haiti Jazz Foundation, Joel Widmaier. From a jazz background through his dad, the late Herby Widmaeier — who has been a promoter of jazz in Haiti through his radio shows — he wanted to do something that would honor the legendary genre in his country. Joel has also taken part in many festivals around the world and knew what it took to put one together on an international level."IB: It's remarkable that the festival also includes a mentorship program for native artists. Can you elaborate on its mission and how it came about? MS: "Since the first edition back in 2007, artists have always been asked to offer workshops geared towards aspiring, young musicians — free of charge. There is no jazz education and very few music schools in Haiti, so this is an opportunity for them to learn from professionals from all over the world.Today we can pride ourselves in having participated in the creation of new generation jazz musicians. Moreover, we recently started a school program, where we will give free jazz, harmony, composition, and music appreciation classes. We also plan to obtain grants that will improve the students' equipment and provide seminars for them"IB: EDM was also incorporated in the lineup through Michael Brun and given the influence dance music has on the festival scene, do you foresee the different genres blending on a larger scale? MS: "Our challenge and objective since the start has been to attract a larger crowd to this jazz festival, including a public not familiar with it. Plus, the Haitian music is very diverse and the inclusion of all kinds of music is what's made us successful.However, we still plan to focus the majority of the lineup on jazz musicians and at the end of the day, Michael is a great illustration of this. We didn't pick just any DJ, Michael includes his Haitian jazz roots into his sound. He will be closing out the festival this year showcasing the perfect example of diversity."

Courtesy of PapJazz

An inside look into PapJazz.

IB: Beyond revolutionizing people's perspective on jazz, what are some stereotypical misconceptions about Haiti that you feel the festival is helping change? MS: "The first thing that comes to mind is that in Haiti great things can happen. We offer events that meets international standards in terms of organization logistics, sound quality, comfort, and of course, security. Yes, there's a lot of poverty, but at the same time, the Haitian people have a real 'Joie de Vivre' that you can feel through their smiles and faith for a better tomorrow. Attending PapJazz does something to you, anyone who goes come back with a new outlook on Haiti and a better understanding of what the country could become.IB: 12 years is also a long time to be hosting a worldwide event, what would you say about this year makes things even better than the last? Can you point out some highlights festival goers shouldn't miss? MS: "We strive to bring better lineups each year, which is no easy task. Jazz musician fees can be quite expensive and it's important to remember that the festival is a nonprofit with most shows being free. Luckily, this year, we are proud to include two Grammy Award winners and thanks to the participation of foreign embassies, we were able to have artists from 12 countries.In this edition, we also made a commitment to make the event a tourist destination, in which we created various packages that allow for the possibility to explore the country, the kindness of its people, its rich culture, and beautiful beaches on a higher level. We know it will be an unforgettable experience."By Isis Briones for Forbes.com| November 20, 2017