Photo courtesy of Cameron Cavé

Many college students want nothing more than to discover and develop their own personal identities separate from those of their parents. But this desire is harder to achieve for some than it is for others, especially if you are the child of a celebrity.

Hofstra University student Cameron Cavé, a junior film studies and production major, is the son of Alan Cavé, one of the most well-known Haitian artists to this day and the lead singer of the konpa band Zin. Many Americans know Alan Cavé’s most popular hits, such as “Se Pa Pou Dat” and “Chokola,” but his son is beginning to make a name for himself as well – just not in the music industry. Cavé wants to be a producer.

“I always knew I wanted to go down the entertainment route – not specifically singing like my dad but definitely in an artistic route like him and other people in my family,” Cavé said.

His inveterate passion for producing is a calling he’s felt for a large part of his life.

“My true passion for going into entertainment spans back to when I was much younger in middle school, when I was very infatuated with stories both in movies and television,” Cavé said.

Cavé is already making impressive strides toward achieving his dream. At just 20 years old, he is already out in the real world doing freelance work for musicians. He’s also made a couple commercials for a club in Brooklyn called Kompa Tuesdays. He even helped with producing a music video for a Hofstra University student artist, Xavier Bell, also known by his stage name OfficialX. Additionally, he is a writer for HEAT Network shows Director’s Cut and Hofstra Today.

Cavé aspires to improve representation for the culture he grew up in.

“In this field, you don’t see too many Haitian producers or directors,” Cavé said. “I’ve always wondered why that’s the case because Haitians are a very art-oriented group. I would really want to work through the resources that I have and the support that I have through my family and others to really represent art on the screen that I personally find captivating but also for the community that I grew up in.”

Although Cavé has successfully made a name for himself away from his father’s fame, that doesn’t mean that family isn’t extremely important to him. Even though his father travels a lot, they still manage to maintain a close connection.

“My relationship with my dad is a very loving one,” Cavé said. “He knew that he would be touring a lot, but at the same time, he made sure to give me all the attention and love that I needed, along with my mother who was home to take care of me.”

Cavé described his family as “gigantic” but also very close. While he doesn’t have any siblings, he does have a lot of cousins, whom he says give him the experience of being an older brother. His big family frequently has large get-togethers, often meeting for a “wine and cheese day,” but recently Cavé had to be there for his family in a much deeper way.

The recent death of Haitian idol Mikaben was one that was widely felt by the entire Haitian community, but it especially hit close to home for the Cavé family. Cavé’s uncle, Richard Cavé, is another well-known musical artist in his family. He was performing alongside Mikaben when the 41-year-old recording artist suffered a fatal heart attack during a performance in Paris.

Mikaben’s death evoked devastated reactions worldwide. In New York, a billboard debuted in Times Square to honor him shortly after his passing. Still, the Cavés felt his passing more than most, because Mikaben wasn’t just a distant celebrity to them – he was a close family friend.

“It was quite an emotional time for everyone, in all honesty,” Cavé said “I had to be there for a lot of people who were grieving at that time … His death definitely held an impact on my family. Richard wasn’t the only one who knew him and was close with him … I wish I could take away the pain that they all felt.”

Being there for his loved ones is very important to Cavé.

“I want people to know that they can rely on me, and I’m someone who is very open to talk things out and communicate,” Cavé said. “I believe that’s the most important thing that I’ve learned.”