CONCRETELOOP.COM

In the interview, the star spoke about his inspirations, new music and, of course, the current state of Haiti and the government. Not to mention, he blessed us with a dope acoustic performance.

WYCELF’S ACOUSTIC JAM SESSION
FEATURING OLD & NEW SONGS

Concreteloop:
Thank you for sitting down with us. We know you’ve got the new EP coming out December 7th entitled, If I Were President: My Haitian Experience. Where was this recorded?
Wyclef:
The CD was recorded between a very small basement inside of Bloomfield, NJ. When I was going back to the sounds of what I was looking to create, I have a big studio in Manhattan. But um, when I got back, it was more like a diary in my head, that I wanted condensed into a very small, sonic, very acoustic feel. So when it was recorded in a newer version of the Book of A. Smith, where I did The Score w/ The Fugees, but all of that equipment had to be moved to a different place.

Concreteloop:
When you’re recording what inspires the music? Does it come naturally or do you actually write down things when you’re in the studio.
Wyclef:
Well I mean, music is second nature to me. It comes from inspiration. I’m inspired by the world, like it’s not just the block, you know? So keep in mind, like in Haiti, I used to take a donkey to school at times. And while riding that donkey, I could imagine that I’m at Madison Square Garden. So music is an inspiration of individuals that’s how it comes, you know?. Like Marvin Gaye, you feel what you see and you write about it whether it’s passion, love, or politics.

Concreteloop:
What is your stance on Haitian politics now that you weren’t picked up for the candidacy?
Wyclef:
I have this song on the EP that is fluent in Creole, being that I’m not fluent in Creole. It’s called “Prison for The KEP”. My stance on Haitian politics is that it’s corrupted. We don’t really investigate the depth of the laws and how things are really going on down there.

Concreteloop:
One of our Twitter followers, @gregdominica, wants to know whether you’re going to support another candidate, now that you’re no longer in the running for president.
Wyclef:
Well currently I’m on my way to Haiti, I’m going to support the Democratic Election. But me backing any particular candidate wouldn’t be fair to another candidate. I don’t think that I should you use my votes or my followers votes to persuade them to any particular candidate. My speech is as follows: we encourage a democratic election and we’re not going to be intimidated to vote. And the people should vote for their issues and what they’re looking for which is job creation, education and what are we doing with the health issue right now.

♫ Wyclef – Death Threats

♫ ALTERNATE LINK ♫

Concreteloop:
And since you brought up the health issue, I know cholera is widespread over there now and there are a lot of protests for the United Nations and whatnot. What is your take on what’s going on in Haiti right now?
Wyclef:
I was in Jamaica when the cholera outbreak got through and the first thing we did underground, even though Yele Haiti isn’t a water NGO (non-governmental organization), we partnered up with Partners in Health and just started giving entire places that were affected water through our water trucks.

Concreteloop:
Another of our Twitter followers, @Thebelleagency, says there’s a lot of negative feedback from Haiti right now. Have you seen any improvements since you’ve gone back since the earthquake?
Wyclef:
The thing is we put out this video called Election Day. It’s important that we balance things out. Yes, there is negative, but I just shot the video 3 weeks ago. You see the kids smiling, you see the vibe of the country. Similar like Bob Marley and Jamaica, that’s how passionate I am with Haiti. I think that for every 10 negative stories, there’s 2 good ones, but the fact is, 1.5 million people are still in the tips. The cholera is still spreading and how do we keep attention on that fact. But at the same time, encourage people to go to Haiti to help and also to see the entire country as a whole.

Concreteloop:
Do you have any upcoming collaborations in the works or are you just working on your solo album and Haiti?
Wyclef:
Yes, but I think for right now, we’re getting ready for a world tour next summer, The Wyclef Jean: Haitian Experience, a 6-month tour around the world. We wanted to put the EP out to focus on the tone and what made me go back to music after this politics. The album will represent politics and the social issues, love, hate, war, peace and lust. There will be a few duets. One of them is the first single with me and Estelle. The record is called “Forever”. That one’s going out to every woman in the universe that’s sort of like a rock and holds their counter-partner, and the counter-partner must return that favor in return. It may be the first single. We’re trying to drop that on Valentine’s Day.