ViV Magazine Volume 4 (April - May 2014) ViV Magazine Volume 4 (April - May 2014) | Page 40

Exclusive Profile:

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andra Jean

Whether she is handling a microphone or a blow dryer, Sandra
Jean is an artistic force of nature with a sassy New York accent.
She is a hair stylist and the previous owner of Hair Village, one
of the most popular salons in the Tri-State area. But don’t be
fooled! The multi-talented Jean can swing jokes in impeccable
Kreyol while expertly talking about the right color for your long
locks.
“It’s always something I liked to do, you know? I didn’t think that
I’d necessarily make a career out of it.” And if that alone does not
impress you, her solo song ‘Karesse’ has been airing on the radio
for 30 years. Sandra was one of the lead singers and founder of
the all-women band: Riske, which toured and performed in New
York and Haiti. Riske released a total of two albums before the
women went their separate ways. But having first and foremost
been a hair stylist, Sandra refocused on her work.
“You have to keep reinventing yourself as a stylist. You have to be
up to date on all the latest techniques, products and news - so
I constantly attend seminars and classes.” Her newest venture’s
success has been an ode to her hard work. Ysafahrri salon is
winning the hearts and loyalty of its clientele, and guarantees
a personally tailored service that allows anyone to update or
optimize their look.
Born with an artistic soul, she has not yet sacrificed her singing
to the altar of hair styling. Afternoons are spent working on her
music, or escaping to Furcy and Belot to disconnect from the
business.

ViVmaghaiti.com | Pg. 40 |

“I’m not a city girl- I’m a total country side girl. When I lived in
New York, I used to take my car and drive towards greener areas
to breathe a little.” She laughs about not having a green thumb
but constantly having the need to surround herself with plants
and flowers - something she missed while abroad.
This inspiration will pour out into the new album she plans
on releasing next year. Her musical return will be marked by a
combination of elements that essentially make up who she is,
and what she loves: Brazilian percussions, Haitian keyboard and
other influences she has amassed along the way. “What I am
trying to do with the upcoming album is give it a world beat. It
recreates the vision I originally had for Riske’s sound. I’m a lover.
I want peace and I want love, so most of my songs are about
that, really.”
Despite the international influences that will permeate the
music, the Haitian sun runs deep in her veins. She plans on
doing a lot of local tourism and rediscover the more authentic
side of Haiti. This love dates back from childhood, and has
marked who she is today. She recounts how her grandmother
used to roast and grind coffee in front of her, “nothing on earth
can equal that taste, when they do it from scratch. I grew up in
Port-de-Paix, so it was very real, very close to nature. Everything
was so fresh! Fresh food, fresh air. Everyone was so kind, and
everybody knew everybody.”