Paul Beaubrun previews new album Vertières ahead of November release

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Musician Paul Beaubrun introduced audiences to his upcoming album, Vertières, during an intimate listening party at Haiti Cultural Exchange on Aug. 1, offering a first listen to new tracks that blend rock, rasin and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions while drawing inspiration from one of Haiti’s defining moments in history.

Friends and supporters gathered at Haiti Cultural Exchange, located at 35 Lafayette Ave., where Beaubrun shared several tracks from the project, including “Rasin Toussaint t ap pale yo“ Creole for the Roots Toussaint spoke about. The album is scheduled for release in November to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Vertières on Nov. 18, 1803, that secured Haiti’s independence. A concert tour is expected to follow the release.

Speaking to the attendees, Beaubrun said the album’s title reflects a story that belongs not only to Haitians but to the world.

“Vertières is not only something for us, but it’s also something global,” Beaubrun said. “Without Vertières, we would not have Haiti today. It was the last battle when we won our independence, so it’s crucial for us.”

At the event, Beaubrun wore a jersey designed by Ouigi Theodore, founder of Brooklyn Circus, featuring the year “1804”—a tribute to Haiti’s independence and a design first introduced around Haiti’s national team participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup that celebrates Haitian identity through contemporary fashion.

For Beaubrun, the event also marked a personal milestone. Returning to 35 Lafayette Ave. was a full-circle moment because it was the first place he performed live after arriving in New York from Haiti, when the space operated as a restaurant. Today, it is home to Haiti Cultural Exchange, a cultural organization dedicated to promoting Haitian creativity and artistic expression.

The listening session allowed attendees to hear the project before its official release and celebrate an album rooted in Haiti’s history through contemporary musical expression.

Below is a photo gallery and video highlights from Paul Beaubrun’s Vertières listening party at Haiti Cultural Exchange in Brooklyn on August 1, 2026. All photos and videos by Bill Farrington for The Haitian Times.

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