Michael Brun announces new album 'Lokal' out June 26th

First Single 'Akwaaba Ayiti' feat. Mr. Eazi & GuiltyBeatz available now + Music Video

WATCH MUSIC VIDEO, Directed by Haitian artist Tazspady 

Afrobeat, Rara, Konpa, Hip-hop, Reggaeton, Electronic, Caribbean, Creole, French, African, Latin - few countries can boast the richness of musical influences of Haiti. It is a melting pot of centuries of music, brought to a simmer on the streets where Block Parties shape the beat of the contemporary music scene. Decades of musical tradition blended together by a new generation, more interested in moving feet than purism.

Firmly ensconced in this new musical movement is 25 yr old Michael Brun. A classically schooled musician who learned to sing traditional Haitian songs and play guitar, before picking up a set of turntables and a laptop, and music festivals, like Coachella, as Haiti’s first breakout DJ and producer. Ironically it was his time away from Haiti that brought him back to his homeland, realizing he was part of a new generation of Haitians who shared a responsibility to change the narrative surrounding their country while preserving its legacy. This led to tracks like Gaya and Soweto, catching the ears of Diplo, J. Balvin, and Arcade Fire, all of whom have tapped him as a collaborator.

His forthcoming album Lokal is by far the most important work of his career. Lokal is Brun curating the sound of contemporary Haitian music, a collaborative project that sees him working with the next generation of Haitian artists and established stars, a soundclash of the music bubbling on the nation’s streets and dance floors around the world.

Different tempos and traditions come together, as Brun fuses the next sound of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora with the musical traditions of his home country. Lokal collaborators include internationally renowned trio Major Lazer, rapper Baky, African superstar Mr. Eazi, Haitian vocalist J. Perry, Rasin Mizik icons Boukman Eksperyans and Paul Beaubrun, Rara-Tech founder Gardy Girault, and Raboday pioneer Balalatet.

Today, Michael releases the debut single - Akwaaba Ayiti. Featuring Ghanian pop star Mr. Eazi, and esteemed Afrobeat producer GuiltyBeatz, the single is a perfect introduction to the unique blend of world music that Michael will explore on Lokal. 

“Haiti has one of the deepest musical cultures in the world, but people have forgotten that we make music, that we sing and dance. An entire generation of Haitians have been defined by an earthquake, but we are ready to control our narrative and shape our own futures.”

“Lokal was made in a community of our creation, one of pride and support, it’s a record where different ideas and moving parts can come together and co-exist.”

Michael was recently named one of the 11 musicians in Youtube's revamped Foundry program, a program dedicated to developing independent international artists. Dua Lipa, Rosalía, Cuco, and Gunna are alumni of the program. 

cred: Leo Volcycred: Leo Volcy
cred: Leo Volcycred: Leo Volcycred: Leo Volcycred: Leo Volcy

About Michael Brun

“Michael Brun might be the biggest thing to come out of Haiti in the 21st Century” - Esquire

“A cultural ambassador for his island home” - TIME

Michael Brun spent his childhood on the sun-drenched Caribbean island of Haiti. Born to a Haitian father and Guyanese mother who loved music, Brun’s influences stretched from the percussion-heavy Rara and Afro-groove music of his native Haiti, to Hip-hop and RnB. He played guitar and piano from a young age, and took up DJing and music production as a hobby at 16 after winning a full scholarship to attend military school in the US, then going on to study Pre-Med at Davidson College.

Today Michael has emerged as the face for a new generation of Haitians, working with international stars and home-grown musical heroes to share the richness of his island’s culture with a wider audience.

The last two years have seen Brun depart from the club sounds that defined his early career, to work with Haitian artists like J. Perry, Baky, Lakou Mizik and BélO. His singular take on traditional Haitian sounds have caught the ears of tastemakers like Diplo and Arcade Fire, seen him land consulting work for Spotify, collab with superstars like J Balvin, sell out multiple headlining US tours and notch up tens of millions of streams across tracks like Bayo, Soweto, Gaya and Spice, his collaborative track with Grammy-nominated Kah-Lo.

Under his Bayo umbrella Michael is seeking to bring the energy, sound and alluring vibe of Haitian street parties to venues around the world.  In Haitian Creole, ‘Bayo’ means ‘to give’, which refers to both generosity in Haitian culture and the sense of duty that Brun feels to showcasing the best of his country. After multiple block parties in Miami and Haiti, Brun debuted Bayo with a sold-out show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, which was followed by a sold-out US tour.  2019 will see Michael expand upon the concept, bringing the show to nine major cities in the US and Canada.

2018 also saw Brun soundtrack the World Cup, with Telemundo picking his and J Balvin’s collab ‘Positivo’ as their official world cup anthem. Brun would also join Balvin as direct support for his sold-out ‘Vibras’ tour, taking the stage alongside Ghanian pop star Mr. Eazi

Brun’s non-profit work has seen him produce and host the Wherever I Go festival in Haiti, join the board of Paul Haggis’ Artists for Peace and Justice, and serve as the face of the Emmy winning Beatmaking Lab Program.

Contact

michaelbrun.com