CRUZ- LA is a Haitian kompas music band that is based in Brooklyn, New York. The group was created by longtime friends Josue Baptist and Serge Sainthilaire Jr. Josue had thought of the idea of creating a group after seeing Serge play Allan Cave hit song "Sepa Pout Dat" on a little Casio keyboard. Soon after, with the help of good friends (Jamey Jasmin, Fintelow Sainthilaire, and Alfredo Dorcely) and years of work and dedications CRUZ- LA was form in 2009. Longtime friends Samuel Casseus, and Pierre Richard Jean Claude were soon part of the group thus completing the band.
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This band has a lot of talents but lack leadership. The guys need to get it together, because time is passing them by. They shoould fire their marketing team. I remember once, someone from the Harmonik camp stated on kompamagazine.com that they will not play with Gabel because that's not their audience. I must of die laughing that day.

When you are a new band, everbody should be your potencial fans. You need to build a fan base not alienated people from your band. The person said that Harmonik will only play with Carimi and T-vice. I was like: is Harmonik a band or a tribute band to Carimi and T-vice.

Harmonik has 3 studio albums and the band is in a major slump. Harmonik can't even pack a club in their own city by themselves. Rodney noel is to blame, he has a firm grip on the boys and he needs to let them loose. For once hire someone who knows what they are doing. What's their objectif? No one knows. I blame Rodney for the Roosevelt fiasco. Roosevelt would of brought leadership and Identity to the group, but they droove him out because he did not had the boy band look.

Nicky, you need to put on your big boy pants and take control over your band. It's time for you to lead. Too much talents in the band, ya'll should of been miles ahaed.

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For me great Kompa music is made with great patience. I'm not a Kompa musician, I have what is probably comparable to a 1st grader's knowledge and ability of playing a piano, but from my life long pursuit of attentively listening and analyzing Haitian music, I've found the best Haitian musicians use a lot of patience in their music (Ti Mannon, Arly, Alan Cave and Daan Junior). They don't rush the pieces, they let it build, slowly and powerfully, so that you feel the full magnitude of their expression.

We have a lot of new bands that tend to rush an album. Take your time and polish your skills. Music is meant to savour.

To me, this seems to be what separates the good and great from the timeless and unforgettable. Like the emotion you hear when Ti Manno or Gracia Delva sings, or the provoking thought you feel from Coupe Cloue's lyrics. I feel like I can hear the patience put into that. It isn't rushed, care has been taken.

Our music, our heritage and culture is what we have left to share with the world. Please, let's do an a great job by producing master piece.
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It takes a long time to make a great kompa album. I should also mention that more Kompa albums back then were completed in the studio in only a few takes. Less technology in the studio, less toys to play around with, meant shorter production times, so it wasn't a big deal for a Haitian band to go into the studio for two weeks in between gigs.
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