Montreal-based singer-songwriter-rapper Waahli’s new album is titled soap Box. It opens with a lament named machann, or “merchant” in Haitian Creole. This announces the theme at the heart of this album co-produced with friend Boogàt: a tribute to the origins of the musician, to the courage of his parents who arrived in Montreal from the pearl of the Antilles in the early 1970s to escape the Duvalier regime, a tribute to the entire diaspora which, through its history and courage, is shaping a better future. soap box“it’s a bridge that I want to build between two eras, while celebrating the present moment”, sums up Waahli.
“That’s a great story,” enthuses the musician when asked about the inspiration behind machann. ” This sample comes from a group of Cuban musicians, but whose ancestors are Haitians. It’s called Grupo Vocal Desandann — you have to find out, it’s wonderful! These musicians don’t know Haiti, but their Creole heritage has survived through their music. You recognize it by their accent that they are not Haitians, but they know the traditional music of Haiti very well, and that fascinated me. I wanted to sample them. »
Waahli then contacted the artistic director of the Desandann choir, who gladly accepted that the Montrealer borrow a few bars from one of their songs, which “tells the story of this merchant who chose to sell his animals to meet the needs of his family. And I, in my text, speak more broadly of the diaspora. Of my parents who chose to leave Haiti before I was born to give us a better future”.
“I was born in Montreal”, in the Saint-Michel district, close to the members of Muzion, recalls Waahli. “I am a son of immigrants. I had opportunities that my parents did not. They bequeathed this Creole culture to me; of course I adhere to Quebec culture since I was born here. I am Quebecer, but my identity is closely linked to the Haitian culture in which I grew up. It is important for me to reflect this identity in my album because I would like first that it succeeds in starting to break down the language wall and that people listen to it thinking: “I don’t understand all this he says, but I like what I hear.” I want to arouse curiosity. »
I am a son of immigrants. I had opportunities that my parents did not. They bequeathed this Creole culture to me; of course I adhere to Quebec culture since I was born here. I am Quebecer, but my identity is closely linked to the Haitian culture in which I grew up.
This desire is reflected in the musical style of soap box. Waahli the rapper, co-founder of the rap-soul-jazz-reggae fusion collective (and more if you like) Nomadic Massive, is stepping aside from hip-hop to explore other grooves, other rhythms, and sing more than he had done before. The collaboration with Boogàt, acolyte of Alaclair Ensemble who for several years established his notoriety on the Latin American music scene — he was born in Quebec City to parents of Paraguayan and Mexican origin — has borne fruit: his musical vision, soaked in rap, reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, percolated into the sound of Waahli.
“Boogàt has a conscience in his art, as well as the mastery of his art, comments Waahli. He is able to recognize the potential of a collaborator and, through the latter’s project, his own potential as a director. He challenges himself as much as he challenges me, that’s how I see our relationship. Then, we had to get to know each other, it’s clear, we are two strong heads. It went well. I like to be challenged, to be told: “Try that instead”, you see? »
Chemistry, obviously, operated: soap box is lovely. Paradoxically, by being daring on the aesthetic level, by interpreting his texts mainly in Creole for the first time in his career as a rapper, Waahli also gives birth to the most accessible album he has offered to date.
Can’t stand still hearing the pop, latin and contemporary rhythms of the songs See you again and Bliye Sawhere the groove Afro-Colombian from Prince Wow, born from a collaboration with the colorful duo Dawer X Damper. The musician obviously does not deny his love for the boom bap sound with chubby basses, as evidenced by the title track, a duet with singer Clerel, of Cameroonian origin, and the warm Bridgewith Malika Tirolien.
There is in soap box this outlet energy, liberating, often festive, which touches, even if the texts are less easy to decode than when he rapped in French or in English. Allow the cliché, but at the turn of a groove unexpected, of an African or Latin musical reference, we feel some of the shocks that struck us The Carnivalmixed rap fusion of another musician of Haitian origin, Wyclef Jean, released 25 years ago.
“I see what you mean and I love the comparison, reacts Waahli. A classic, this album. Wyclef is an inspiration, he took magnificent risks in doing so, he broke musical boundaries. It was also important for the recognition of Haitian culture in the United States”, at a time when several popular rappers did not hesitate to claim their origins, say, Jamaican, but that others hid their Creole roots. “He raised the Haitian flag, he made us proud. It’s inspiring, an artist who goes for it. »
Waahli doesn’t raise the flag, but with his new album he stands tall, standing on a soap box. “The idea of soap box, it is that of the promontory on which one stands in a public place to speak to people and share one’s ideas, he explains. I would like my music to have the same effect; I believe that this album deserves to be listened to by as many people as possible. »