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PHOTO BY NEIL FAVILA

When you’re an international DJ like Michaël Brun (@michaelbrun), the world is your playground. Brun’s skills behind the turntables have put him in rooms with some of the world’s brightest stars. Even though he’s been in the game for over a decade, he says it all still feels surreal.

The Haitian Guyanese multihyphenate (he was born and raised in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince) is praised for blending numerous genres, such as Afrobeats, kompa, dancehall and more, to create a unique sound that brings people from all different backgrounds together.

PHOTO BY NEIL FAVILA

“Being a DJ and producer lets me do exactly what I love every day, which is making music with people that I love, traveling all around the world and creating as much impact in my community as possible. It’s a dream come true,” Brun tells EDITION.

“BEING A DJ AND PRODUCER LETS ME DO EXACTLY WHAT I LOVE EVERY DAY, WHICH IS MAKING MUSIC WITH PEOPLE THAT I LOVE, TRAVELING ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND CREATING AS MUCH IMPACT IN MY COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE. IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE” -MICHAËL BRUN

Brun’s tour experiences enhanced his views of the world. PHOTO BY MUNACHI OSEGBU

Traveling is one of the most essential aspects of Brun’s artistry as he worked with many international artists this year, including J Balvin and Charly Black on “Jessica,” Joeboy on “Game Over,” and Anne-Marie and Becky G on “Coming Your Way.” In addition, Brun also hit the road for the latest iteration of the BAYO Tour, a show that celebrates the blending of cultures.

Brun launched it in 2016 in Jacmel, Haiti, and recently hit cities such as New York, Paris, Amsterdam and London.

“I feel like the journey of getting to discover parts of the world and connect with different cultures that may or may not be in my heritage is a huge privilege,” he says. “I like to travel because I’m tapping into new parts of myself.”

2023 has been massive for Brun, as he says this is the most he’s ever traveled in a year. PHOTO BY MUNACHI OSEGBU

DJ MICHAËL BRUN’S TOP DESTINATIONS OF 2023

New York City

“With New York, I almost feel like you just have to do it by day. I love exploring the different boroughs and neighborhoods. What’s unique about New York as a city is the inspiration you get because you experience a slice of all these cultures. Walking through the city, you can feel the atmosphere change, and so many cultures are fused.”

Cap-Haïtien, Haiti

“Cap-Haïtien is such a beautiful area full of mountains and [it] has a rich history. It’s a place, if you’re looking for a historical space, to learn about the country. The beaches are so beautiful as well, and the warmth of the people is incredible.”

PHOTO BY MUNACHI OSEGBU

Medellín, Colombia

“I went to Medellín for the second time this year and it’s so beautiful [Editor’s note: Brun explored Medellín with the city’s native and friend J Balvin]. It’s a massive city that’s very green, but there are also areas where the climate changes and it’s cool. You see so much wildlife it’s insane.”

New Orleans

“New Orleans is somewhere that I’ve spent more time over the years. It’s a significant city with all the massively influential things that came from there. It’s a very strange place because it’s one of the only U.S. cities with a strong French influence. It’s also the most musical city I’ve ever been to and such an inspiring place that I highly recommend anybody into music or the arts visit at least once.”

Benin

“I wanna bring up Benin because I think that [it] is a very small country but with an incredibly huge significance to the modern world and the people of Haiti. So many of the [Haitian] roots can be traced back to there. I had a friend of mine from childhood that flew [to Benin] with me as well, and looking at the ocean and realizing, like, this is like the other side of the ocean. Like when I was looking out of Haiti, it was like looking this way. One of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life. That event that night I think was really, really special. I highly recommend anybody that is even thinking about going to, to take a trip. I know it’s a small place, but when I got to see it, I was really touched by it.”