Why The HMI Should Watch Pedro Force and His Band Djapot in 2026

By Moses St Louis

If you follow the Haitian Music Industry (HMI), you already know how hard it is for a new bandleader to break through. The space is packed with big names, strong bands, and fans who know exactly what they like.

That is why the buzz around Pierre Michel Emile, better known as Pedro Force, feels different. He is the lead singer and bandleader of Djapot, a new group from South Florida, and his debut album, produced by himself, has people talking on both sides of the water.

Veterans like Maestro Jean Herard Richard, or Richie, have already called him a musician to watch. After sitting down with Pedro to talk about how Djapot started and what comes next, it is clear this is more than hype.

Who Is Pierre Michel Emile, Aka Pedro Force, and Why Is He So Talked About in the HMI?

Pedro comes across calm, focused, and very serious about his craft. He is not just trying to be another face on a flyer. He wants to build something that lasts.

On stage, he is a strong lead singer with a warm tone and clear phrasing. Off stage, he is the one planning rehearsals, talking arrangements, and thinking about how every show can sound better than the last.

What makes people in the HMI pay attention is the mix of talent and discipline. When someone like Richie says, “This is a musician to watch,” fans and other artists listen. That kind of respect does not come from luck. It comes from work.

From South Florida Roots to the Heart of the Haitian Music Industry

Pedro grew up in South Florida, inside a Haitian community where Kompa, gospel, and Caribbean sounds are part of daily life. That setting shaped his ears and his mindset.

He talks about being raised in gospel music at home, hearing voices, harmonies, and live instruments from a young age. Church stages, small events, and studio rooms all played a role in how he learned to listen and perform.

Like many in the diaspora, he learned how to move between cultures. South Florida gave him hustle and a global sound. Haitian roots gave him rhythm, language, and a deep love for Kompa and the HMI.

A Singer, Musician, and Bandleader With a Clear Vision

Pedro is not only a vocalist. He writes, arranges, and produces. He thinks about how each instrument supports the story of a song.

He talks a lot about rehearsals and live sound. For him, a band is not just friends on a stage. It is a unit with rules, respect, and a shared goal. He wants tight breaks, clean vocal parts, and a groove that keeps people on the dance floor the whole night.

That clear vision, plus his work in the studio, is what turns him from “just a singer” into a real bandleader.

Inside Djapot: How a New South Florida Band Is Shaking Up the HMI

Djapot did not appear overnight. It started as an idea that followed Pedro for years. He wanted a band that could carry fresh energy into Kompa, with real musicianship and strong original songs.

During our sit down, he spoke with a quiet confidence. You can feel that he has been planning this move for a long time, step by step.

How Djapot Was Conceived: The Story Pedro Shared in Our Sit Down

Pedro says the dream of Djapot lived in his head long before the band had a name. He wanted a group that could match the standards he heard from the great HMI bands, while still sounding like South Florida today.

The real spark came around their first song, “Maprann.” At that point, scattered ideas turned into a real project. He began calling musicians, sharing demos, and explaining his vision for the sound and the live show.

Many people told him it would be hard to even put a full band together. They said he would not find the right players. He chose faith over fear, kept going, and surprised those same people when Djapot became real.

The Meaning of the Name “Djapot” and the Band’s Identity

In Haitian Creole, the word “djapòt” is often tied to luck and gain. As Pedro puts it, “Everyone knows that if you say djapot, you mean winning twice at the same time.”

That idea fits the band. Djapot stands for double gain: roots and modern, Haiti and diaspora, studio and stage. They want to be bold, modern, and fully Kompa at the same time.

You see that identity in their visuals, their lyrics, and the way they carry themselves live. The style is clean, the message is proud, and the vibe is high energy without losing control.

The Djapot Sound: Modern Kompa With a South Florida Vibe

Djapot’s music starts with a solid Kompa groove. The drums and bass stay locked in a smooth, danceable pocket. Guitars add bright, driving lines, while keys and synths bring color and mood.

Pedro’s voice sits on top with clear melodies and hooks you remember after one listen. The lyrics touch love, daily struggles, and hope, always in simple, direct language.

Living in South Florida adds other flavors. You can hear touches of R&B, Afro vibes, and wider Caribbean rhythms, but the heart stays HMI. It is the kind of sound 2025 listeners want: clean, modern, and built for both streaming and live shows.

A Debut Album That Turned Heads: How Pedro’s Solo Production Made Waves in the HMI

When Djapot’s debut album dropped, one detail stood out. Pedro had produced it himself. For a new bandleader, that choice is bold.

In a scene where many young acts depend on outside producers, he took control of the sound. That move helped shape his image as a full artist, not just a singer on top of someone else’s work.

Self Produced from Start to Finish: Why This Debut Album Matters

When Pedro says he singularly produced the album, he means he led the creative choices from start to finish. From arrangements, to vocal stacks, to the feel of the groove, his hand is on every track.

Self producing a first album carries risk. If it is weak, everyone knows who to blame. If it works, people see your full talent. In this case, the reward is clear. Fans heard a tight, focused project with a clear musical direction and a strong Kompa base.

The mix is clean enough for radio and playlists, but still feels like live musicians playing together. That balance is part of what caught so much attention.

From Underground Buzz to Veteran Respect in the HMI

At first, the album moved in typical modern ways. Social media clips, DJs testing songs in parties, live videos on HMI pages, and word of mouth in South Florida.

Then the veterans started to notice. Among them was Maestro Jean Herard Richard, Richie, one of the most respected bandleaders and arrangers in HMI history. Richie told the me directly that Pedro is a musician to watch in the HMI.

For a new band like Djapot, that kind of co-sign is huge. Richie’s career, his hits, and his leadership give weight to his words. When he respects your work, doors start to open.

Why Pedro Force Is a Musician to Watch and What Comes Next for Djapot

Pedro is not trying to rush a quick trend. He speaks about Djapot’s future like someone building a long project.

Pedro’s Vision for Djapot: Growth, Quality Music, and Strong Live Shows

Pedro’s focus now is simple: more strong songs, better shows, and a tighter unit. He wants Djapot to be known as a band that sounds just as good live as in the studio.

That means long rehearsals, serious attention to arrangements, and better stage production over time. Lights, intros, transitions, and crowd interaction all matter to him. He thinks of Djapot as a brand that fans can trust.

Possible Collaborations, Tours, and Impact on the Next Wave of HMI Artists

He would love to spend studio time with artists like Richie. His path as a self produced bandleader from South Florida could inspire other young HMI artists to take control of their own sound and career.

He is proof that you can start from diaspora spaces and still earn respect in the core HMI.

Ester Surpris, Co‑Lead Singer and Key Voice of Djapot

One of Djapot’s secret weapons is co‑lead singer Ester Surpris. Pedro credits her for adding flavor, charm, and a sensual edge to the band’s sound.

Ester is not a beginner. I’ve known her since the days she used to sing on “Ayiti Deploge,” an acoustic show that focused on vocals more than instruments. That background shows today. She knows how to control her voice, blend with Pedro, and carry a song by herself when needed.

Together, they give Djapot a rich vocal front that keeps listeners locked in.

Q & A With Pedro

HB: Can you share a childhood memory when music first felt important to you?PF: I was born into gospel. My parents raised me with the music of Lochard, so music was around me from day one.

HB: Was there one moment when you decided, “This is it, I want to make music for real”?

PF: The year I decided to take music seriously was 2004.

HB: Did you have any teachers or elders who pushed you toward music in your family?PF: I found my parents making music, and that encouraged me to do it too.

HB: Outside your family, did anyone push you toward music?

PF: There is a guitarist named Vladimir. He was in Show Off, and he can really play. He pushed me toward music.

HB: Do you remember your very first time on stage, and how it felt?

PF: The first time I went on stage was in 2008 at Gele Beach. The experience was not smooth at all. I was very stressed.

HB: If you look back now, what was the biggest thing your childhood taught you about music?

PF: If you love music, you have to be patient, you have to be brave, and you have to go to school to learn more about it.

HB: If you could spend one day in the studio with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

PF: The musician I would love to spend time in the studio working with is Richie.

HB: Where do your lyrics come from most of the time, personal stories, history, or daily life around you?

PF: I have not honored any stories from my home in music yet, but I have to do that soon.

HB: How did Djapot first come together, and what was the spark that made it real?

PF: Djapot was created during a casino gig we went to. It was a dream that had been growing for many years, but what finally brought us together was the first song called “Maprann.”

HB: What is the meaning of the name “Djapòt,” and why did you choose it?

PF: The name Djapot defines itself. Everyone knows if you say Djapot, you mean winning twice at the same time.

HB: Did you know right away what kind of sound you wanted, or did it grow step by step?

PF: Djapot was born with an ideology we already knew, the music we would play with all the sound.

HB: Can you talk about one early challenge the band faced and how you got past it?PF: The first challenge was people saying we could not really create a band because we would not find musicians. We did it with faith. Everyone was surprised.

HB: Who were the first people outside your close circle to believe in Djapòt?

PF: The first person to believe in Djapot was me, no one else.

Pedro Force is not just another singer passing through the HMI. He is a full artist, producer, and bandleader who already has the attention of heavy names like Richie.

From his South Florida roots to the birth of Djapot, from a self produced debut album to growing respect across the industry, his story is just getting started. The band’s sound, identity, and work ethic point to a strong future.

If you care about where Kompa and the HMI are heading, this is the time to watch Djapot up close. Listen to the music, catch a live show, follow them online, and remember the name. The next chapter of HMI will be written by artists like Pedro Force, and this feels like page one.