Mercier, Hantz Jr

“I never learned to play the keyboard! My father never wanted me to be a musician! So I had to unwittingly familiarize myself with this instrument which has become another part of me! ”

Hantz “Ti Ansyto” Mercier Jr. Who would have said it? Who would have believed it ? Ti Ansyto, who handles keyboards so well, who throws crowds into a trance, has never had the chance to learn at a conservatory. He just inherited his father’s genes and became the magician you know! His style is different, of course, but his talents have nothing to envy the geniuses of yesterday who attended music schools and who brighten up more than one! Animated by his unalterable joy, he spoke with the Roroli team to confide in you and, at the same time, bring you the latest information relating to his KREYOL LA group.

I was born in Port-au-Prince on December 21, 1982. I start by telling you a secret: my mom, whom many do not know, is called Freda MC CALLA and my father, who is still the attraction of music lovers around the world are called Hans Mercier. Regarding my academic training, I followed Ms. Durocher’s courses at the prestigious Sainte Thérèse of the Child Jesus institution, then engineering and sound courses.

I am not the only blessing of the family, my parents gave birth to several other children, including Valessa, Michele, Raphael, Laisha, Diana and Gaëlle. I grew up at my father’s fan club on rue Audain and in this magical place where decibels have always been present, I had the chance to enjoy rehearsals and performances by great tenors of the Compass, that are DP Express, Scorpio, Gemini and later, Sweet Micky, T-Vice, to name a few!

Between Stanley Hérissé, son of the famous Porky and me, a musical bond developed. At the end of the rehearsals, we had fun with the instruments, he on drums and I on drums. At eight, I started with the keyboard, with some friends, far from the eyes of my father, who hated the

The first time I played in public, it was to make up for the absence of a disc jockey who was to host a ballroom with friends. I was accompanied by my childhood friend, Junior Clovis, who is currently delighting fans of HANGOUT. The rage to play was already in me, but that evening, the click occurred and I already saw myself as a crowd leader. My mom had detected my skills and had an incredible surprise in store for me. At fifteen, I was called to perform to animate a football match. Mom knew this and had invited a very special but unexpected guest, my dear father! After the match and my performance, he was moved, because he couldn’t believe that I loved music so much to train without him noticing. He was also amazed at how much I had talent. From that day on, he understood that he could not hinder the will of fate and left me the freedom to follow the path of my heart and let my fingers hug the keys of the keyboard.

With my childhood friends, Marc Harold Charles, who, at the time, lent his services to Ozone, Djakout Mizik and Mizik Mizik, Jeff Augustin, Stanley Hérissé and Junior Clovis, a small group was formed, but all that ‘there is more informal. We had fun playing to please our friends and our performances were rather appreciated. In 1997, things started to take another shape, when I participated with other friends in the Chanté Nwèl contest, organized by Télé Max. Being among the finalists boosted my confidence and pushed me to work harder to get even higher. Shortly after, Top Digital came into existence. I owe this group what I am today and will be in the future. VS’

Top Digital has released an album, which has been more successful in foreign lands than in Haiti. However, it did not last long because, at the edge of the release of PIMP, our second album which was to revive our quote in the hearts of the fans, the group dissolved. This dissolution was mainly due to the fact that everything rested on my shoulders. I was simply overwhelmed by the waves of responsibility that swept over me.

Some have argued that the departure of Gilbert Ravix was the error that caused the training to drift. Far from there! Gilbert had left us long before the release of our first compact. So there is no connection. I never spoke of the group’s abandonment by the latter, but I believe that I owe explanations to the public, especially since it happened with a base reason. Dissatisfied with our guitarist, the majority of the members of the group had opted for his replacement. During a performance, Gilbert came with a friend of his, whom he said was able to hold the ropes for the group. In all other circumstances, this new member would have been welcome, because we actually needed a replacement for our guitarist. But Gilbert wanted to impose it the same day, without no preliminary rehearsal was done with the friend in question. He declared that if his protégé was not able to perform immediately with us, he would not be with us! I was sorry for him, but he had chosen and no one forced him.

While Top Digital was going through a fairly difficult period, another formation of the new generation, Konpa Kreyòl, also faced serious torments. After the split of the members of this group, I was invited to join the ranks of the new group newly formed by Ti Djo Zenny and the followers who followed him. After assessing the causes that led to the collapse of Kompa Kréyol, we opted for a group where all the members would be owners with separate shares. This is to prevent Kreyòl La from being the property of one or two people, but our common good. This is how I joined the group and I do not regret it. It’s a family! A good mood,

In any community, conflicts are prone to arise. This is how sometimes we have disputes. But what should be remembered is not for the sake of quarreling, but for mutual respect and the smooth running of the Compass. A short time ago, Ti Djo and I, we had a dispute, we reconciled for the joy of the fans who began to speculate on the future of Kreyòl La. Until recently, it was rumored that Théo had us Drop it. I don’t even want to talk about it anymore, because since last week, he has joined us and participated in the evenings at Cabane Choucoune and at Champ-de-Mars where we have intoxicated our fanatics of all generations with good compass.

At the same time, I have already produced several hundred Rap-style beats. You can recognize my touches on the 1804 album by Christophe Laroche (Freedom) and also on the versions of Illegal 007, including the titles Get High and Tout moun fimen bòz. I don’t have a very special rhythm, I define myself as a complete artist.

During the 2006 carnival, I made mistakes for which I want to apologize, on the one hand to the public and on the other hand to the musicians of Krézi whom I have, according to some, insulted with ridiculous remarks. It was only innocent slogans launched against them, a question of amusing those who made the trip to have fun at the Champ-de-Mars. In my heart of hearts, I did not want to start any struggle, no war, but only to stir up controversy for the smooth running of the business. It is a pity that the musicians of Krézi did not see it from this angle. I don’t think they’re ready to understand that my goal was to keep our respective fans going and keep the business going. I make the commitment, from this minute,

During the recent performances of Kreyòl La, the public saw my father playing with us and questioned at length about his presence in our womb. What about Long before the news of the dissolution of Sweet Micky had reached the eardrums, he called me to tell me that he had dropped the tape to Michel Martélly, that he was going to occupy his time working in the studio. I shared the information with Ti Djo, who suggested we hire him as our music advisor. Since we were unable to decide this without the consent of the other members of the group, we contacted Nathan, our spiritual father, who brought everyone together urgently. He had the clarity of mind to analyze that if Hans Mercier Sr remains on the sidelines, any other musical formation could call upon its services. So, it would be best to use it as a spearhead and not as a coach. Joubert Charles welcomed this proposal with great joy, because like any manager worthy of the name, he saw the benefit that we could derive from it, especially in the European and Caribbean markets where the reputation of my father is unimaginable so the generations of these areas remain marked by its unforgettable services.

The others accepted unanimously and I accepted last, because it was my father and I did not want others to think that I wanted to impose it. Taking into account the experience of our new teammate, I must admit that this recruitment is more than interesting, because we will from now on, offer better worked music to our audience. Personally, this will allow me to improve and I will find the time to master the methods and secrets of music theory. With my talents and the help of my father who, on the keyboard, turns into an alchemist, I believe that I can become one of the best in the Haitian music industry and even go beyond his exploits.

After a year of success, with almost endless performances, the group will finally enter the studio and reward its many fans with work done with great care. Already 10 titles have been selected for submission to the public. All tastes will be satisfied, because the mosaic of talents which composes the group will bring to the album a variety of rhythms and colors. Stanley, a pure product of the DP Express school, will come with his old fashion style, Ti Djo, the social composer, will bring his satire, Ti Ansyto will bring an air of zouk, (not the lazy zouk with four chords, but a melody rather rhythmic “piké devan”). The other musicians will also bring their participation to this realization which, already, promises to be announced like a masterpiece.

On a more personal level, although I do not confuse the artist and the man, I am forced to be frank with you and tell you that it is not easy for me to manage family and musical career. However, my adored wife, whom I love with infinite love, chose me as such and still accepts me today as I am. My son, Giovanni, born a few months ago, came to sum up the happiness and the joy in my heart. Thanks to him, I became wiser and more responsible. Now I see things from a better angle. I do not know how many kids the sky will give me, but I think, for the moment, Giovanni is more than enough for me.

What hearts have I just broken? There may not be many, those who knew I was married and a father. But a few years ago, during a brief stay in Cap-Haitien with my friend Bruno Moural, whose mother was manager of Top Digital, my eyes fell on the beauty of an angel who seemed to have come straight down from the sky. Some time later, I had to return to the city of King Christophe and we spoke for the first time. We have behind us five years of passionate love including two years of marriage.

To all good things, there is an end! So I will leave you, but I want to send a special message to my brother musicians to invite them to understand the meaning of a good controversy called to entertain us. We all defend a single cause, the rise of the direct compass. If the controversy cannot be similar to that between Djakout Mizik and Tvice, we must flee it!

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