NORTH HAVEN —After the catastrophic earthquake in 2010 in Haiti, which killed more than 300,000 people, according to Haitian government reports, and left nearly a million more homeless, survival was the number one priority. Out of the rubble, a group of people worked to find beauty and harmony once again. A group of musicians had the idea to start a band in 2010 on a hot November night in Port-au-Prince. Haiti was still reeling from the earthquake, a cholera epidemic was raging and a political crisis filled the streets with enough tire burning ferocity to close the international airport. Calling themselves Lakou Mizik, a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of that earthquake, to include elder legends and rising young talents, a powerhouse collective of singers, rara horn players, drummers, guitarists and even an accordionist.

Manager Zach Niles, describes as “roots pop.” 

“One of the ideas of the band is to introduce the Voudou and folkloric traditions with Haitian roots music but reinterpreted by young performers who give the songs high energy,” he said.

CD Hotlist describes Lakou Mizik as: "A crazy quilt of Haitian musical styles, from contemplative acoustic balladry to ecstatic chanting and throbbing compas. It's fun but also moving."

Niles, who lived in Haiti from 2011 until 2016, currently lives in Burlington, Vermont, and is the producer of the award-winning documentary, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. He had traveled to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake to explore ways in which music could help play a role in recovery and empowering social change.

“Getting the band to Maine is in some ways part of the original idea and dream that started in 2010 to share the culture and positive spirit of Haiti through music,” he said.

According to Niles, "I always wanted to use music and story of musicians to create a deeper connection to the country than either the one-note negative press or the falsified hope-and-inspiration NGO stories that get pushed to the public."

Because of his film ties with the Camden International Film Fest and a chance meeting with another filmmaker, Cecily Pingree, who lives on North Haven, Niles chose to kick off a two-week tour for Lakou Mizik in Maine, starting with North Haven before traveling with the band down to New Orleans for the Jazz Festival.

The band is currently at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, procuring their visas. On April 12, they will fly to Portland, where Niles will pick them up. The next day, they will make the trek up the coast and onto a ferry in order to play at Waterman’s Community Center on April 13, then back over to the Strand Theatre in Rockland on April 14, and finally back to Portland at SPACE Gallery on April 15 before making their way down the eastern seaboard.

To learn more about the band’s origins, name and members visit:lakoumizik.com/about

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com