Nu Look’s Epic Summer Finale: Highlights and Hiccups from the CORNUCOPIA Yacht Party at Pier 81

By Moses St Louis

Even under a heavy rain, just as boarding was taking place, Nu Look said goodbye to summer in style, hosting the final HMI yacht party aboard the CORNUCOPIA at Pier 81. Fans arrived buzzing with excitement, ready for one last night of music and celebration on the water. The energy was high, the crowd was dressed, and every detail pointed to a memorable close to the season.

Even with a few surprises, like last-minute delays and sound issues, the crowd kept the party going without missing a beat. For many, just being there with Nu Look, feeling the music and soaking up the party vibes, was more than enough. This wasn’t just any night on the yacht—it was the final night of summer’s yacht party event of Summer 2025.

Pier 81 became a scene straight out of a summer blockbuster as guests began to board the CORNUCOPIA. The city skyline faded into the background while the yacht filled up with laughter, music, and shimmering outfits. This wasn’t just another night out—it was the highly anticipated close of HMI’s yacht party season, and everyone wanted to soak up every moment.

The excitement was hard to miss. As lines stretched along the dock, friends greeted each other with hugs, ready for a night they knew would be unforgettable. The gentle rocking of the boat mixed with upbeat chatter and set the mood from the start. Every detail felt deliberate, the vibrant atmosphere that brought the party vibe alive before the first drink was poured.

Staff moved quickly, checking tickets, helping with directions and making sure everyone felt welcomed and, in the mood, to celebrate. It felt less like waiting for a party and more like joining an exclusive club.

This wasn’t just another night on the sea. The CORNUCOPIA’s final run marked the end of a vibrant season of HMI yacht parties, making the stakes even higher. Nu Look fans and partygoers recognized the moment: this was a last chance to dance on the Hudson, catch summer’s warm breeze, and sing along to the band that defined their memories.

Many made plans weeks in advance for this night. For some, it felt like saying goodbye to summer in the best way possible—a packed yacht, great music, and a crowd that seemed determined to keep the party going, no matter what hiccups might come.

The night had just begun and most guests hadn't even settled in with their first drink when a sudden twist grabbed everyone's attention: Richard Urbain, the event organizer, picked up the mic to make a surprising announcement. The CORNUCOPIA, already sailing away from Pier 81, would be turning back. The reason? Jean Raymond, Nu Look’s trusted sound engineer, was still not on board and running late. For anyone who’s ever been to a big live show, news like this can feel like the record scratch heard ‘round the world.

For Nu Look, missing their sound engineer set off a handful of immediate issues. Those early moments on stage came with sound hiccups—vocals weren’t landing right, background harmonies barely cut through, and some instruments just sounded off. Even so, the crowd’s focus was clear: everyone was here to party, no matter what tech troubles came up.

Jean Raymond is more than a guy twisting knobs in the background. He’s the person who brings Nu Look’s live performances to life, balancing every mic, instrument, and speaker. In HMI bands like Nu Look, a sound engineer isn't just backstage help—they steer the experience for everyone listening. In short, Jean Raymond is the unseen guide for every Nu Look performance. When he isn't there, things get shaky fast—but this crowd was more focused on living in the moment than the technical bumps.

The missed cues and sound balance could have spelled disaster at another type of event, but not on this yacht. People still cheered, danced, and sang along, hardly bothered by what was happening behind the scenes. For most, the party spirit soared above the hiccups, proving the magic of live music doesn’t live only in perfection.

The CORNUCOPIA’s rocky start could have sent the night into a downward spiral, but the energy on board said otherwise. Nu Look fans proved that when the party spirit is high, even technical hiccups can’t spoil the vibe. Instead of grumbling, people leaned into the moment—dancing, cheering, and singing as if they were part of the band themselves. Nobody let a missed harmony or quiet background vocal bring them down. On this yacht, it was joy first, logistics second.

Arly's Leadership and the Band's Resilience

Arly held the crowd together from the very first note, even in the face of rough sound. The mic might have been glitchy and the mix off-balance, but his presence never wavered. When the band couldn’t rely on their usual setup, Arly kept things personal—smiling at the crowd, keeping eye contact, and making everyone feel like the party was just for them.

With the sound engineer delayed, some artists might have thrown in the towel or slipped into frustration. Not Nu Look. The band pressed on, rolling with each sound blip and unfazed by the unexpected. Arly, especially, showed that a good lead singer does more than just belt out lyrics; he keeps the show moving through anything.

At one point, the background vocals dipped almost out of earshot, yet the party didn’t skip a beat. The crowd stepped in, singing along so loudly it felt like a choir on the water. For many songs, it was as if the band opened the mic to every fan on board. Arly could have sung a cappella and the crowd still would have danced the night away—it was about connection, not perfection.

What stood out was how easily the fans filled the gaps. Whether shouting out lyrics or clapping during awkward pauses, they fueled the night’s momentum. You could see smiles everywhere, with people raising their glasses, hugging, and swaying together as if nothing else mattered.

Even with the technical setbacks, Nu Look’s energy—and Arly’s steady leadership—reminded everyone why they came out in the first place. The music mattered, but so did the memories and camaraderie. On the CORNUCOPIA, the true headliner was the shared joy between band and fans.

Performance Highlights: Vocals, Setlist, and Unique Moments

As the sun slipped behind the skyline, Nu Look took to the stage ready to give fans a sendoff they’d remember. Even with sound issues in the early songs and the late-arriving sound engineer, the band’s classics brought everyone together. Several moments stood out, whether in the vocals, song choices, or the ways Nu Look and partygoers fed off each other’s energy.

Nu Look's setlist read like a greatest hits playlist, packed with crowd-pleasers and fan requests. Each song built on the party’s momentum and got people moving, despite any technical hiccups. The song flow went like this:

• why do you say you love me

• until when

• Mea Culpa

• Malonèt

• My feelings

• Mwen deçu

• men towo a (biggest reaction)

• Ma Mwatye

• why now? ( 2^nd biggest reaction)

• L’ame soeur

With such a deep catalog, Nu Look could do no wrong in the eyes of their fans. People didn’t just listen—they sang along with every line, clapped in time, and let each song guide the mood.

"Why do you say you love me”  always a crowd favorite, kicked things off with a wave of nostalgia. The smooth groove of "Mea Culpa" kept couples close on the crowded dance floor, while tunes like "men towo a" and "why now" sparked a jump in energy that swept across the yacht. When "why now" dropped, the volume in the room literally spiked. The crowd let loose, sending up the loudest cheers of the night and turning the dance floor into a sea of moving bodies. It’s these up-tempo moments that showed what the party needed—marks for Nu Look to lean on faster tracks at yacht parties.

Arly Larivière set the tone with his signature vocals, keeping his delivery steady and personal no matter what the soundboard threw at him. Even with the background singers’ mics set too low for much of the night, Arly’s lead pushed through.

This glitch meant the tight vocal harmonies that usually fill out Nu Look’s sound felt thinner than usual. Instead of layered backing, the spotlight focused almost entirely on Arly. The band adapted—fans took over on background lines, helping to build the group atmosphere. When the chorus hit in songs like "My feelings" and "Ma mwatye," you could feel the unity as the crowd filled in the missing gaps.

While it would have been great to hear the ladies’ harmonies amplified all night, the atmosphere hardly suffered. If anything, it gave fans more room to join in and create singalong moments that stood out.

Big moments kept rolling throughout the show, but a few songs won the loudest cheers and the wildest responses. Here are the standouts:

• "why now" had the crowd singing word for word, drowning out even the glitchy mic system.

• "men towo a," with its faster rhythm, amped up the dance floor and brought even the most reserved guests out of their shells.

• "Mwen deçu" and "Mea Culpa" kept hearts full and the yacht swaying, drawing big reactions from both longtime fans and first-timers.

Nu Look’s ability to connect ran deeper than the music. Arly spent time between songs talking to the crowd, joking with familiar faces and welcoming new ones.

These moments blurred the line between performer and audience. Nu Look brought the party, but the fans owned it just as much. With every technical challenge, there was a new reason to celebrate together.

In the end, the night belonged to both artist and audience—proving once again that live music isn’t just about what you hear, but how you experience it together.

Even the best parties can hit rough patches, and the Nu Look finale on the CORNUCOPIA was no different. The night was packed with energy, but a few mishaps on board stood out to anyone paying close attention. From the moment the yacht left the dock, there were challenges behind the scenes that shaped how people experienced the show. Everyone wanted a perfect night, but sometimes you just have to roll with the heat, smoke, and crowded dance floor. Let’s break down some of the most obvious hiccups that shaped the party vibe.

The “Furnace” Floor: Where the Band Played

Anyone who made their way to the main floor with the band felt it—it was hot, crowded, and tough to stay comfortable for long. The heat from so many people dancing, singing, and moving around turned the space into a virtual sauna. This is a floor where everyone wants to be: close to the action, soaking in every song, but it came at a cost.

VIPs also felt the heat, since that exclusive section shared the same air as the band. There was hardly any space to cool down unless you escaped to a different deck, but that meant missing the music up close. It's a tricky balance: you want to be where the action is, but not at the expense of feeling like you’re baking in an oven. The contrast made it clear: people stuck with the heat just to be close to the show.

Another not-so-subtle problem on the band floor was the chaos with seating. Guests tired of standing around started grabbing chairs and rearranging them wherever they could find room. This led to clusters of chairs in walkways and corners, making it hard to move around or get a clear path to the bar, bathroom, or dance floor.

The setup needed more attention from the event staff. With some planning, there could have been clearer sections, easy-to-find seats, and room to move.

One issue that stuck out for many: the amount of open smoking on the yacht. All night, people lit up cigarettes, cigars, vapes, and even weed with barely a second glance from security or the staff. In a closed, jam-packed room, the thick smoke hung in the air and left nowhere to hide.

This wasn’t just an inconvenience for non-smokers; it added to the heat and made it hard to breathe for a lot of people. Even after bringing it up with a security guard, nothing changed. Most just shrugged and let the party carry on as usual.

For future events, clear signals and stricter rules would go a long way. Most guests just want to have fun without choking on smoke all night.

What Organizers Could Do Better Next Time

A party this big always comes with lessons to learn. Simple tweaks could have made everyone more comfortable:

• Clear seating plans, with staff helping to keep walkways open.

• Dedicated smoking areas away from the tightest crowds and the dance floor. Like the opened upper deck.

• More visible and helpful security, ready to step in when guests raise concerns.

People come to parties to let loose, not to fight for space or fresh air. Even with all the heat and haze, many guests kept their spirits high. But next time, a few tweaks from the organizers could turn “hick ups” into happy memories instead of gripes.

Behind every big HMI event, there’s someone pulling the strings to keep things on track. For the CORNUCOPIA’s summer finale, that person was Richard Urbain, the driving force behind Venus International Production. It’s tough to host a yacht party for Nu Look’s biggest fans, let alone handle the curveballs the night threw his way. Richard and his team took the lead from the first check-in to the final song.

Richard wasn’t just an organizer watching from afar. He worked the yacht from top to bottom—moving through crowds, checking in with guests, and stepping in where needed. For many VIPs, he was the one face they saw again and again, making sure the night felt special.

He didn’t wait for problems to pile up. If a VIP group didn’t get their appetizers, Richard fixed it himself, tracking down servers. When a frustrated guest pointed out an issue on the main floor, he took a hands-on approach, often solving it on the spot. His attention helped smooth over some of the hiccups—the missed sound cues, the crowded walkways, and the heat near the stage.

The difference was clear in the VIP section. Instead of waiting or waving down staff, guests knew Richard would be checking in. It made a big impression, especially when things on the main floor got hectic.

Every live event comes with last-minute surprises. Missing sound engineers, heated rooms, and tight spaces don’t exactly make things easy. But Richard stayed in motion, solving problems without losing the upbeat energy that a yacht party needs.

Even with a packed schedule and a night full of moving parts, Venus International Production showed consistency. The staff followed Richard’s lead, staying friendly, fast, and supportive throughout the trip. Event planning isn’t usually glamorous once the party starts, but Richard made it look almost seamless.

Some Noticeable Guests

Spotted throughout the evening, both in the VIP sections and among the crowd, were some familiar faces who have shaped or influenced Haitian music, entertainment, and culture in New York. These guests didn’t just draw attention—they made fans buzz with excitement and set the tone for a night nobody wanted to miss.

Here are a few of the standout guests about:

Dadou DYS: A media personality in his own right, Dadou brought a sense of old-school class to the yacht party. Fans approached him for selfies and quick stories, making his presence felt everywhere he went.

Venus: Known as a mover in the media circuit, Venus brought his signature style and energy, adding to the VIP glamour.

Joel Antoine, ESQ: Joel added a touch of surprises, that’s the first time he was spotted at a Venus International event in a long time. He caught eyes but stayed approachable, sharing laughs near the stage.

Dread Shoudly: Bringing a laid-back charm, Dread kept things lively, joking with friends.

Cisco the Batch: The self declared “Governor of Fashion” meant he couldn’t go far without being stopped. People looked for him just to say they’d seen him on board.

KPS: Always in the crowd where the energy is high, KPS is a true music lover, blessing and attending every band’s performance.

Mandel and Uncle Kinjy: These two influencers lit up Instagram and tiktok feeds with live posts and clips of the band. Fans tagged along on their stories, catching every highlight as it happened.

These guests didn’t just pose for the cameras; they mixed in, danced, and celebrated with the crowd. People chatted, shared drinks, and took group selfies, adding to the night’s open, friendly spirit.

Nu Look’s final yacht party of the summer proved that great music and loyal fans can turn any challenge into an unforgettable night. Despite sound setbacks and tight quarters, the spirit on the CORNUCOPIA never faded. Guests left with stories, laughter, and memories that capture what HMI events are all about.

Five yacht parties strong, Nu Look isn’t just closing out seasons—it’s building new traditions and drawing bigger crowds each year. The connection between band and fans remains the heartbeat of these nights. Announcing a headline show at The Theater at MSG only raises the bar for what’s next.

Thanks for reading and reliving the night. Share your own Nu Look memories below and get ready for more moments that bring our community together on and off the water.

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