KOMPA! MAGAZINE

[kompamagazine]

As one third of the group SKANDAL, lead vocalist PATRICK HANDAL is credited by many of being one of the bands that pioneered the first new generation movement in the HMI with the release of their legendary debut CD "Nouvelle Generation" with songs such as the title track, "Ti Boy", "Se Ou", and more. With the group getting ready to do a reunion concert in Haiti in December, we caught up with Patrick Handal to talk all things SKANDAL in this exclusive interview. Enjoy.


(Patrick Handal is in the middle)

1) KOMPA MAGAZINE: It is an honor to have you here with us Patrick. Surely you must know that your group is like an iconic band in the business for the debut SKANDAL cd "Nouvelle Generation. Do you know what THAT cd meant to the business and music at the time of its release? Did you ever think that it would be received that way by the public?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Well I realized after a while that, that cd changed the Haitian music industry, and created a new direction, and a few artists followed in our foot steps. after the release of our first song (single) called "Retounin" at that time. I realized we had something going with the listening public."

2) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Were you guys prepared for the success and fame that came afterwards?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Not at all. We were and still are simple guys, young at the time, and did not know much about the music industry, we came from listeners to artists in a very short time."

3) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Why did it take the band nearly a decade to release your second and sadly last cd on the market?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Well it is very complicated. First the other members were not ready for the success, and also we took a big hit from our management group at the time. We really wanted to stop altogether, but decided after a while to release a new album. I also have another album getting ready in the studio, and hopefully if things go ok, we will release by next year."

4) KOMPA MAGAZINE: The fame and success could have continued had you guys kept active on the scene with studio cds and live performances. What happened? Why did SKANDAL come crushing down?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Like I said before, our management group at that time, Melodie Makers, really did us bad, and we got fed up and stopped."

5) KOMPA MAGAZINE: How was the group SKANDAL/CD put together? How were you approached to be the lead vocalist of such an ambitious project. To our knowledge, you had no prior experience in music...or maybe I'm wrong.
PATRICK HANDAL: "Lol, you have that right, it was just a pure getting together with the right guys by coincidence, and I put my mouth one day on the mike, and it just came out. Patrick Brun was always a good friend of mine, and I tried one day while he was playing, and that was it."

6) KOMPA MAGAZINE: How big do you think SKANDAL would have been today had you continued without a hitch in proceedings?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Well,, it could have been big as such as Kassav, and other big bands, but I guess it was not meant to be."



7) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Are your kids aware that "Daddy" was a big star back in the SKANDAL days?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Yes my kids know about it, and that is one reason I'm glad we are having the show on the 28th of December so that they can actually watch me perform. I did not diassociate myself really, like I said, I was very disappointed in the industry as a whole, and kept my distance."

KOMPA MAGAZINE: With the passing away of JOHN DOANE, surely that must have been painful because not only did you lose the musical genius of your band, you also lost a friend?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Well I lost my brother when John passed away, and that made me move away even more."

9) KOMPA MAGAZINE: How and WHY did you guys come up with the name SKANDAL for the group?
PATRICK HANDAL: "All 3 of us suggested one name and we had all our friends choose which one they preferred, and Skandal came out. ( I suggested that one lol)"

10) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Any great memories from your SKANDAL days in terms of Live concerts or whatever WITH FANS, that you still remember to this day?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Well, all of it was great memeories, I never expected to be what it became, and still today, I don't consider myself more than Patrick Handal, the person, but it made me go through an incredible experience that one can only dream about."


(Courtesy of Hughline Jerome)

11) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Do you still go back and listen to your SKANDAL cds, or you don't want to?
PATRICK HANDAL: "I listen to them sometimes, and it make tears roll down my face, as I remember my dear friend John, but my close friends always make sure that I listen a lot."

12) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Out of all the Skandal songs, including "Se Ou", "Ti Boy", "Fe Sa Ki Bien" and all the others; which one is your PERSONAL FAVORITE and why?
PATRICK HANDAL: "Se Ou" is my personal favorite, cause it brought something special out of me when I was singing it in the studio, when it came to the vocals."

13) KOMPA MAGAZINE: Any thoughts on doing some videos to keep the memories of some of these songs ALIVE on DVD or YOUTUBE as a way to always have a memory of SKANDAL even after you pass away? That's the least you can do for us skandal FANATICS LIKE MYSELF and others. I can't believe you guys never did a music video.
PATRICK HANDAL: "well we are starting again in December and we will see what it will bring us.i never thought of it that way."

14) KOMPA MAGAZINE: I've always said that after ZEKLE, SKANDAL was the group that first changed the typical HMI music genre and took it in another direction, which then in turn brought in many other fans in the process. Surely you must be proud.
PATRICK HANDAL: "Yes, we are proud, because ZEKLE is really a top band, very good musicians, and it is an honor to be pronounced in the same sentence as these guys, the Widmayers brothers are very very good musicians, and also proud to see that 3 guys who had no big ambition when it came to music, actually made music that people enjoy till this days, and also change the feel and face of Haitian music."

*Conducted by PATRICK DESVARIEUX for KOMPA MAGAZINE!

Here are some AUDIOs for SKANDAL
https://soundcloud.com/kompamagazine-com

Last edited by kompamagazine on Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:00 am; edited 2 times in total

[Noula980]

Skandal was very awesome, miss john and the group alot
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I like both Djakouts but T-Vice is mine favorite

[passionkompa]

WOW! THEY'RE BACK. GOOD TO HEAR. MY FAVORITE IN THEIR AWESOME CD WAS AND STILL IS LONELY LOVER
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BAN'M MIZIK, KITE FEELING MWEN PRAN LARI

[kompamagazine]

Here are some AUDIOs for SKANDAL
https://soundcloud.com/kompamagazine-com

[LadyKreyol]

You just made my day Pat and YOU know it. I was and still am a huge Skandal fan and Nouvelle Generation is one of my favorite albums of all-time. I wish I could be in Haiti for that reunion but we all know without John it will be bittersweet but it's great they are paying hommage to John.

I look forward to hearing what 2 Patricks have in store for us.

Question: Can you find out if the female singer who sang co-lead in the song LAVI A BEL with Superstars de New York will be a part of the show, her name escapes me but she has an amazing voice. I believe she was close friends with all the members.

GOOD JOB PAT!
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Music is love in search of a word.
Sidney Lanier

[kompamagazine]

Ladykreyol

You are talking about SABRINA. I know.

KM!
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phpbb:echo dicks;

[MenkiJan]

Pat se de group mwen ou tap pale la wi Ti Boy.

Pat ou pa mande misye si lap kenbe menm style ansyen an nan nouvo CD kap soti ya, ou byen lap adopte yon lot style (full-band) all together????

Mesi anpil.

[LadyKreyol]

kompamagazine wrote:

Ladykreyol You are talking about SABRINA. I know. KM!

Yes, yes Sabrina. Thanks
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Music is love in search of a word.
Sidney Lanier

[Deutch]

passionkompa wrote:

WOW! THEY'RE BACK. GOOD TO HEAR. MY FAVORITE IN THEIR AWESOME CD WAS AND STILL IS LONELY LOVER

@PASSIONKOMPA......OU GEN BON GOU WI....LOLOLlLLL

THE CD ITSELF IS A CLASSIC....CLASSIC..AT IT'S BEST

SE EPOK SA GRIMEL MWEN YO TAP FE ANPIL MIRACLE.....BEL EPOK..

..........MESI SKANDAL.....
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...... A LA KANA GEN PLUME SA .......

*** LOBE'Y LA PRAN LARI ***

*** MWEN KANPE AN DIFISIL SOU GRIMEL YO***

[DJ Kreyol]

Great interview and I am listening to the songs now.
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"Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on...."