Overview:
Haitian-born artist Miu introduced her signature multilingual sound and world influences to Montclair Brewery in New Jersey throughout an intimate efficiency celebrating her newest album, Unphased. The night time resonated with a various viewers, highlighting Miu’s artistry and her message of hope for Haiti.
By Fredner Cayemitte
MONTCLAIR, N.J.— Because the solar set over Montclair Brewery, a pleasant crowd gathered on July 5, buzzing with pleasure for an evening of reside music. The vitality within the air was palpable as Murielle Augustin, referred to as Miu, took the stage, guitar in hand, able to share her dynamic mixture of nation, R&B, French and Haitian rap music.
The intimate live performance, a part of a sequence of small-venue reveals, showcased songs from her newest album Unphased, that includes collaborations with artists from all over the world. Miu seamlessly weaves English, Creole, French and Spanish into her music, incomes her a rising worldwide following.
She launched her music profession in 2006 after turning into a finalist in a expertise contest organized by the Haiti-based file label Soley Sounds. She rapidly gained consideration along with her track “Scorching Boy.”
Rising up, she was deeply influenced by her father, a saxophonist with the group Jazz des Jeunes, in addition to by most of the profitable singers she admired.
Miu’s 2016 journey to Chicago for a music convention led to a pivotal encounter with The Sundown Kings, sparking a collaboration that included a Boston efficiency in summer time 2017, a nationwide tour spanning greater than 50 cities from summer time 2018 by way of fall 2019, and the discharge of their single “Come By” and its accompanying music video—cementing their musical legacy.
Former Reuters photographer, Jeanty Augustin, grew to become a fan of MIU, noting their shared final identify and stating, “I’ve seen her musical progress since Solèy Sound; she has change into an completed and well-experienced artist.”
The efficiency not solely celebrated her latest work but additionally highlighted her message of resilience and hope at a time when Haiti continues to face political and social upheaval.
“I’ve by no means in my entire life seen my nation in a state as it’s proper now,” Miu stated. “I didn’t assume it was attainable again then that issues may worsen, however apparently, it did.”
For her, as an alternative of trying to repair points in Haiti, people within the diaspora ought to shift their consideration to areas the place they will make a distinction.
“Give attention to what we will do ourselves for our households, our pals, and our communities as a result of change begins someplace,” she stated. “What you are able to do, how one can impression your group, that’s what issues now. That’s how we develop, that’s how we get out of this example.”