T-ANSYTO
Full Name: (Hantz Fred Mercier)Date of Birth: (December 21st,1982)
T-ANSYTO is a Haitian musician, composer, and cultural icon known for his innovative approach to traditional Haitian rhythms blended with modern influences. Over his decades-long career, he has become one of the most celebrated artists in Haiti, contributing significantly to the promotion of Haitian culture on the global stage.
Early Life and Education
T-ANSYTO, real name Hantz Fred Mercier, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from famous keyboardist dad Ansyto Mercier .
Career
Also known as Maestro, he is an award-winning Haitian artist and owns the independent record label DIYOSA Music. He is also the founder and lead singer of the globally recognized Haitian trap-kompa band MAESTRO.
Widely regarded as Haiti’s most prolific music producer — 300 records and counting —T-Ansyto’s creative genius has earned him a sweep of awards (including Best CarnivalProducer 2014, ’15 & ’16) and brand ambassador deals for iconic brands such as Nissan, RedCross and UNIBANK. Prior to founding MAESTRO (the band), he was a member of Top Digital & Kreyòl la.
Despite the pressure of a demanding music career and his tendency to seek perfection, he finds balance through faith, communication, and creativity. In 2017, MAESTRO released his second trap-kompa album featuring hit songs ‘Malgre Tout’ and ‘si’, which skyrocketed the band to national and global recognition. In 2020, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Maestro pioneered a live-stream show “Entre Nous Live Show” which was rebroadcasted online also by international medias. It was in fact during that period they created his most famous trademark “kashap kashap zell manman pepal” that now became a popular slogan all over.
T-Ansyto continued to release new music such as “Pa gen kote”, SOUKE, Lave Lè a, JEWOM, to just name a few, and electrifying the Carnival in Haiti year after year. 2121 Carnival in Jacmel (Haiti) proved to be rewarding as his band MAESTRO was named Carnaval Champion of the town.
Style and Influence
T-ANSYTO’s musical style is a dynamic blend of traditional Haitian rhythms, such as konpa, drumming, and folkloric melodies, infused with modern elements like jazz, electronic sounds, and global music trends. His ability to seamlessly merge these diverse influences has set him apart as a pioneer in Haitian music, showcasing the depth and versatility of the country’s cultural heritage.
A hallmark of T-ANSYTO’s work is his creation of the new genre "Trap Konpa".
T-ANSYTO’s influence extends beyond Haiti, inspiring a new generation of artists to explore and reinterpret traditional Caribbean music. By collaborating with international musicians and participating in global music festivals, he has played a significant role in introducing Haitian sounds to a broader audience. His contributions have earned him a reputation as both a cultural ambassador and a visionary in world music.
Personal Life
Married since 2004 with his wife, they have two boys.
Legacy and Impact
As a young boy he watched countlessly his dad play with his bands throughout the years, from DP Express to Sweet Micky. But his dad never wanted him to follow his steps and therefore never gave him lessons on how to play the keyboard. He secretly watched his dad every time he played to learn. He would rehearse by himself all he had seen his father do and would get a chance to play in public for the first time at a friend's party when the DJ didn't show up. Amazed and surprised, his mother who viewed his talent surprised him and invited his dad to view his performance at the next friend's party where he would perform. Amazed and moved by his determination and talent he would gift his his first keyboard. T-Ansyto quickly put together a small group with his close friends who played instruments and Top Digital was born. In 2005, he was invited to join the band KREYOL LA, whom he stayed 9 years with before letting go to pursue his own musical career. The band Maestro was born in 2016 with the launch of his first album "Maestro", followed by the album Tou9. It was in fact during that period they created their famous trademark “kashap kashap zell manman pepal” that now became a popular slogan all over. MAESTRO continued to release new music such as “Pa gen kote”, SOUKE, Lave Lè a, JEWOM, to just name a few, and electrifying the Carnival in Haiti year after year. 2021 Carnival in Jacmel (Haiti) proved to be rewarding as MAESTRO was named Carnaval Champion of the town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG5iNzuGNw. In 2022, he released also his first Instrumental Album named "Instrumentals Vol.1" https://lenouvelliste.com/article/238114/un-album-instrumental-pour-t-ansyto .
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG5iNzuGNw
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/238114/un-album-instrumental-pour-t-ansyto .
https://issuu.com/ticketmagazine/docs/ticket1293_web/3
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/164995/maestro-le-premier-album-solo-de-t-ansyto
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=481225959038194
https://lenouvelliste.com/article/226442/trois-jours-bien-gras-a-jacmel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG5iNzuGNw
External Links
Official Website