Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2016 | Page 158

Highway Band | Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine

Harlan de Haas
Tell us about Highway
Band - who are the
members, when and why
did you decide to form a
band?
Highway Band is a top level allround band based in Curacao,
formed and led by me. Since
forming the band in 2012, we’ve
caused a lot of commotion with
our musical level and it’s therefore
no coincidence that nowadays the
band is the hottest 100% LIVE
entertainment band and has
rapidly risen to the position of
being the musical choice of “those
in the know.” on the local music
scene.

The band consists of 8 talented
and experienced musicians who
have all played actively here in
Curacao, in The Netherlands and
elsewhere. Some have even had
the honor of sharing the stage on
various occasions with big names
such as: José Alberto “El Canario”,
Air Supply, Gerard Joling, Las
Chicas del Can, Grupo Niche
and many more. Because of our
vast musical experience, Highway
Band is able to effortlessly provide
any event with the appropriate
Tropical and/or Top 40 gems.
The band members are:

- Judienne (female lead singer)
- Roald (male lead singer)
- Renato (pianist)
- Jourich (bass player)
- Jair (conga player)
- Cliffard (drummer and co-owner
of the band)
- Verner (percussionist)
- Harlan (synth player, band leader
and owner/director of the band)
I decided to form my own band
in 2012 after I felt that I couldn’t
see eye to eye musically anymore
with the manager of the band I
used to play in. I thought we were
standing still instead of moving
forward and that there was no
challenge anymore for me in that
band. So that’s when I decided it
was time to “do my own thing”. I
had told Cliffard (who was also in
the other band) about my plans
and he immediately said he will
come along. So from that point on
it was “our” band.

Why the name Highway
Band? What is its
significance?

Funny enough the name came to
us spontaneously when Cliffard
and I were having a conversation
about the manager of the old
band we used to play in. We were
complaining [AGAIN] about how
his managing style was pretty
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much “my way or the highway”,
and that’s when we said THERE’S
THE NAME FOR OUR NEW
BAND (!!!):Highway Band! Funny
story, but very true! Haha

What are your individual
backgrounds?

We are all locals and most of
us grew up here. Each member
comes from a different “music
upbringing” so to speak. I for
example started early on as a DJ
and became very popular and
successful here on the island.
Others started out in youth bands,
in church, etc. until our paths
crossed and we formed Highway
Band.

Who are your musical
influences?

Also very varying musical
influences, from Juan Luis Guerra
and Marc Anthony to Sting and
Michael Jacksonand everything in
between. :-)

What genre of music do
you sing most often?

Our basic repertoire consists of
Merengue, Salsa, Zouk, Caribbean
and some Reggae and Top 40
songs. However, if desired a
customized repertoire can be put
together as well.