Dayana Mercier, Haiti’s Teen Music Sensation: An Interview

At 19, Dayana Mercier is one of Haiti’s biggest teen sensations. She is a college student, attending Université Quisqueya. She is a singer, dancer, model and songwriter, and she loves doing it all.

How long have you been singing? I’ve being singing since I was seven years, and I remember how I was so shy to sing on front of everybody [Laughter].

Do you recall your first performance? Of course I do. It was on October 29, 2005 at Poly Café. I remember that day I was so afraid, I actually started to shake on stage. I closed my eyes and I started singing real loud. Then I danced. Everyone was happy. Since that day, I knew it was my destiny.

Who are your fave artists? I have a lot of favorite artists, so I’ll give you the top five: Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Rihanna, Emeline Michel, Beyonce.

Do you write your own songs? Yes, I do. And I thank the Lord everyday for that gift.

How do you deal with fame?  I really love my fans and it’s because of them that I’m here today. They are really good supporters. Thanks guys. Love you.

Is it hard making friends? Are you fearful that someone might want to be your friend just because they want to associate with someone in the music business? I’m not gonna lie. It was very hard to choose my friends, but since you have them you can trust and share all your secrets with them. That’s why I always say, “I don’t have many friends but many acquaintances.”

What inspired your song “Crazy teens”? I can say that I wrote “Crazy Teens” based on the way young people dance, sing, dress. The way they live their lives. And the way they enjoy themselves.

What are your plans for the future? For my future, I want to be a lawyer specializing in child protection and at the same time continue my career as a singer, dancer actress and model.

Do you think that a musical artist has a sort of obligation to society? I really like this question. Yes, I think all of us artists have an obligation towards society because we’re role models for the world around us. We’re like a president. Our job is to let the message pass through out talent, whether we are singer, dancer, painter, actor, and so on. We have to give guidance through our messages, and to work all the time to satisfy our fans, because it’s the same [people] who make it possible for artists to express themselves.