Moonlight Benjamin returns to U.S. with powerful Vodou-rock fusion

By William Farrington

HOLYOKE, Mass. — Moonlight Benjamin’s lyrics are sung in Haitian Creole and communicate to a Haitian viewers, however the highly effective juxtaposition of melody and rhythm in her music appeals to listeners on a visceral degree. Nearly from the second she walked on stage at De La Luz Soundstage on a quiet Sunday, the well mannered reserve of the viewers dissolved. Her melodies — impressed by Vodou, grounded in Haitian conventional music, and backed by crashing rock chords and sensible guitar work — had a noticeably highly effective impact.

Benjamin returned to the USA for a number of East Coast dates earlier than persevering with her tour in Europe. It was the primary likelihood to listen to the Toulouse, France-based Haitian singer since her breakout performances at globalFEST and NPR’s Tiny Desk live performance sequence in New York Metropolis in 2023.

Earlier than her March 30 present in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Benjamin spoke to The Haitian Occasions about discovering risk in issue and about reaching out to find the richness in our variations. The set that adopted drew from her new album, “Wayo,” and earlier releases “Siltane” (2017) and “Simido” (2020).

“All my music is tied to Vodou, though all of the devices should not Vodou, they’re devices that play the blues, all of it derives from the slaves’ music,” Benjamin mentioned.

“Rock comes from blues and ultimately, I’m taking part in our ancestors’ music. This option to merge [to make this fusion] is exactly to satisfy others.”

Her band contains longtime collaborator and guitarist-arranger Matthis Pascaud, together with Matthieu Vial-Collet on guitar and Quentin Rochas on bass. Brooklyn-based drummer Matthew Bent joined for the U.S. dates, changing Simon Lemonnier. The consequence was a sonic soundscape that includes interlocking guitar work that, at occasions, broke free from conventional 12-bar blues buildings whereas constructing stress and ambiance.

“I believe the soul of music roams all around the world. Each time you go to those locations, Louisiana, Haiti, Chicago, we really feel the soul of the slaves, of Africa, so inevitably there’s a connection, as a result of their soul nonetheless lives there,” Benjamin mentioned. 

“It’s fascinating that to counterpoint ourselves, now we have to go to others, that’s why I make this combine, rock — a music that Westerners play — with my tradition, with what I’m. It’s to satisfy others and for the opposite to return to satisfy me.”

Whereas all her songs are about Haiti and she or he sings in Creole, her message to Haitians and non-Haitians is common.

“It’s true that we’re all totally different, even inside the identical tradition, music exhibits me that distinction is a richness,” Benjamin mentioned.

“As a lot as we should go in direction of the opposite, it’s essential to know oneself. For this merger to be a wholesome merger, and for it to happen in a pleasant ambiance, we should know ourselves.”

The set included her latest single “Bafon,” which Benjamin says is “a message of hope” about Haiti.

“My nation of origin grips me, and what occurs there doesn’t go away me with out a cry. The track is a metaphor; it evokes the burial and the tip of Haiti, as if it’s a particular person,” Benjamin mentioned. 

Within the track, Haiti arrives on the cemetery, however nobody — not even the lifeless — desires this burial to occur. The guardian of the cemetery, the chief of the lifeless, Grasp Baron, declares that he doesn’t have the inexperienced gentle from Grasp Kafou, who opposes the burial and affirms that “no, Haiti shouldn’t be lifeless, she nonetheless carries life in her!”

Her musical journey started whereas rising up in a spiritual household and singing within the choir. When she began dwelling on her personal she was launched to Vodou tradition and Vodou-inspired music.

“I used to be excited about that tradition, the outfits and the music, and I wished to know extra, what was occurring with that music,” Benjamin mentioned.

Her curiosity finally led her to France, the place she studied music formally and later shaped her personal band. Residing overseas, she mentioned, has deepened each her creative expression and her understanding of herself. The expertise of being outdoors Haiti gave her a brand new perspective on identification, self-reflection, and progress — in addition to a stronger sense of connection to others by means of music.

Her modified perspective on Haiti after dwelling overseas is deeply mirrored in her album “Wayo.”

“It allowed me [living in France] to see the struggling of those those that I didn’t see once I was there as a result of we suffered collectively, which was regular for me. However as quickly as you journey, you understand that this struggling was not regular,” Benjamin mentioned.

For the reason that launch of “Wayo,” she has composed and collaborated with worldwide artists, together with the Latin band Bongo Hop, and is scheduled to carry out in Brazil in October 

She mentioned she would like to deliver her band to Haiti.

“We had been planning to a couple years again, however COVID got here, and the safety state of affairs made it inconceivable,” Benjamin mentioned.

Regardless of the challenges, Benjamin stays guided by hope.

“There aren’t any small desires. Regardless of the hardships we’re going by means of, you will need to preserve our desires alive,” Benjamin mentioned. 

“That is my line of conduct for years: due to our desires, our wishes come to life. Awaken your desires, consider in your self they usually change into a purpose and never a fantasy!”