Carimi members reunite with enduring chemistry after 8-year hiatus

After an eight-year hiatus, Carimi‘s founding members – Richard Cavé, Mickael Guirand, and Carlo Vieux—are gearing up for their highly anticipated reunion concert on Dec. 27 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. With multiple rehearsals each week, the band is proving that their chemistry remains as strong as ever, even after years apart.

“You would think that they never broke up,” Jermaine Magras, founder of Jay Upscale Marketing & Promotions and of Konpa Kingdom, told The Haitian Times. 

“The energy is good. They’re very respectful to each other. They’re cracking jokes with each other. It’s like best friends coming back together.”

Formed in 2001 in New York City, Carimi quickly became a household name in the Haitian music industry (HMI), captivating audiences with hits like “Ayiti Bang Bang.” Known for blending socially conscious lyrics with traditional Konpa rhythms, the band gained a devoted following across generations in the 2000s and 2010s. When  Guirand left in 2016 due to internal conflicts, leading to the band’s breakup, fans were heartbroken.

In a music scene often marked by divisions and disputes, Carimi’s reunion is being hailed as a rare example of Haitian men setting differences aside to come together for a shared purpose. While many fans had hoped this would mark a full comeback, the band has clarified that the reunion is solely for the Dec. 27 concert.

“Great things can happen when differences are put aside and come together for a purpose like the guys [Carimi] have,” Magras said. “I’m actually proud of them for making that decision.”

Rehearsals reveal the trio’s harmony extends beyond music. According to Magras and the band’s manager, Fabienne Alphonse-Reid, the members have been in sync, not just while playing but also in decision-making, often brainstorming ideas via Zoom.

“When you hear Carlo exchanging with Mickael, exchanging with Richard, it’s like they never left,” Alphonse-Reid said. “The harmony and energy are still there.”

Carimi previously attempted a reunion in October 2022 at Accor Arena in Paris, but the show ended abruptly when fellow artist Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin tragically died after suddenly collapsing on stage.

This upcoming concert marks a historic moment for Haitian music, as Carimi will be one of the first Haitian bands to headline a U.S. arena. Tickets have been selling rapidly, with about 10,000 sold within the first 48 hours in October. As of now, approximately 14,800 tickets have been sold, with only around 1,200 remaining, primarily for seats with limited views.

Ticket prices range from $206.40 to $340.50 and are available at konpakingdomlive.com. Alphonse-Reid revealed that more than $1 million has been invested in the concert, with a significant portion allocated to production.

She added that about 70 percent of ticket holders are women. 

Fans relive the magic of Carimi

For many Haitian-American women in their 20s and 30s, Carimi was the Haitian equivalent of iconic American boy bands like Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Fans passionately followed their music, glued pictures of the members to their notebooks, and sang along to their hits.

Although talented, other Haitian bands in the HMI at the time had not garnered the same level of widespread intergenerational, international appeal as Carimi.

Not even Guirand’s band now, Vayb, nor Cavé’s band, Kaï, brings that same energy Carimi left behind, some fans have claimed.

Tai Lucien, a millennial and community organizer from Elmont, is among thousands of women who caught “Carimi fever” during their teenage years. For Lucien, the band’s upcoming performance is a long-awaited moment, offering Haitian-American women the chance to relive the electrifying nostalgia of the 2000s and early 2010s.

“A lot of us, authentic fans who grew up with them in the 2000s really wanted the chance to experience them again as a group,” Lucien said. “That was like our boy band.”

Despite her love for the band, Lucien never had the opportunity to see them perform live during her teenage or college years. The Dec. 27 concert at UBS Arena will mark her first time experiencing Carimi in person.

“Their breakup was heartbreaking,” she said. “It felt like, ‘Oh no, not another Haitian group disbanding.’ But seeing them reunite, embracing their brotherhood, and giving fans what we’ve been craving is such an amazing feeling.”

“You would think that they never broke up. The energy is good. They’re very respectful to each other. They’re cracking jokes with each other. It’s like best friends coming back together.”

Jermaine Magras, founder of Konpa Kingdom

For Diana Raymond, a Brooklyn-based social service worker, Carimi holds a special place as the first Haitian band she truly fell in love with. Although their breakup didn’t surprise her, given the divisions that often arise among Haitian musicians, it was still devastating. When Benjamin passed away during their 2022 reunion show in Paris, Raymond assumed she’d never see the band together again. She’s thrilled to have been proven wrong.

“I’m so so so so excited for this concert,” Raymond said. “Growing up, I listened to anything my parents played like chansonette française, but Carimi was a more modern, hip type of band from the way that they produced their music to the English they put in their songs.”

For Raymond and countless other Haitian Americans, Carimi bridged cultural gaps, making Haitian music feel more accessible by infusing it with elements of American hip-hop and pop.

The band’s appeal extends beyond the Haitian American community. According to Alphonse-Reid, attendees will include fans from Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, and Martinique, showcasing Carimi’s widespread influence.

As one of the first Haitian bands to headline a major U.S. arena, organizers hope the concert will elevate Haitian music on the global stage.

“The whole goal of Konpa Kingdom is to elevate Haitian music and its people on the world stage, to give Haitian, Caribbean music its rightful place,” producer Magras said. 

“Expect a show like none other. This won’t be like the Carimi you’ve seen before or Vayb or Kaï, it will be nothing like you’ve seen before.”

The post Carimi members reunite with enduring chemistry after 8-year hiatus appeared first on The Haitian Times.

---

Carimi members reunite with enduring chemistry after 8-year hiatus was first posted on December 5, 2024 at 10:12 am.