Haitian arts college Jacmel has released a video of Arcade Fire jamming alongside a number of students during the nation’s Kanaval festival.
A stripped-back rendition of Here Comes the Night Time from fourth studio LP Reflektor, the footage was captured when the Canadian outfit visited the Haiti during their 2014 world tour.
A more minimalist approach than the elaborate live shows and meticulously produced albums for which the indie heavyweights are known, the down-to-earth rendition showcases the raw chemistry which sits at the heart of the Arcade Fire’s music.
With bandmember Régine Chassagne being born in Haiti and Arcade Fire’s native Montereal playing home to a large Hatian community, the small Caribbean country has had a marked impact on the band. Traditional Haitian music has long served as a source of musical inspiration for the group’s unconventional signature sound. The island’s influence came to the forefront with the rara inspired sound and visuals of 2013 album Reflektor.
Taking their love of all things Haiti one step further, frontman Win Butler and wife Chassagne have also announced plans to open a Haitian themed restaurant and art space in Montreal.
Arcade Fire are currently in New Orleans working on their fifth studio album.