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Wesli
Versatile Singer, Multi- instrumentalist, Producer.
One of Haiti’s most inspiring musical ambassadors.
WESLI, a Haitian-born and raised artist now thriving in Canada, stands out as a versatile singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who has become one of Haiti’s most inspiring musical ambassadors.
His unique compositions seamlessly blend traditional Haitian rhythms with an eclectic array of styles that reflect his broad musical influences and experiences. WESLI’s ability to fuse the vibrant sounds of his homeland with contemporary genres have captivated audiences worldwide.
Born in 1980 to a financially-challenged family in Port-au-Prince and his musical adventure began at a young age when he sang alongside his mother in the gospel choir of the local church. His father, Henri Louissaint, was a well-known banjo and percussion player of twoubadou, a popular Haitian folk music style. Wesli’s desire to serve his society has driven him throughout his life, encouraging him to create change and bring Haitian culture to new audiences through the power of his music.
Wesli has collaborated and shared the stage with Tiken Jah Fakoly, Magic System, Alpha Blondy and many others. Since 2008, Wesli performed on more than 50 major festival stages in Canada, in addition to touring the entire world, always offering captivating performances.
Awards:
The Hagood Hardy SOCAN Award (2016)
Dynasty World Music Award (2017) *
JUNO award for World Music Album of the Year (2019) * Felix for the World Music Best Recording Award at ADISQ* Coup de Coeur Académie Charles-Cros Prize (France, 2020) * the Best World Music song from the American Independent Music Awards * Best World Music Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Spotify: 8,708 monthly listeners
Le Soleil Descent – 914,369 plays
Be Ti Fanm Kreyol – 134,918 plays
Makonay – 123,024 plays
Youtube: Blackman Samba – 1.1 Million
Total Youtube views: 2.4 Million
Total Youtube channel subscribers: 63.6 K
Facebook: 73K followers
Tradisyon, le dernier et très ambitieux projet en deux parties de Wesli, est une continuation des explorations de son album Rapadou Kréyol (2018), nommé en référence aux traditions des diasporas haïtiennes et africaines.
Tradisyon, Wesli’s latest, and highly ambitious, two-album project, is a continuation and deepening of the goals of his album Rapadou Kréyol (2018), named in reference to the Haitian and African diasporic traditions it uplifts, honors and reinvigorates.
Discography
Awards
2023 JUNO AWARD NOMINATION
2020 Canadian Folk Music Award
Artist of the year – World Music – Solo
2020 Independent Music Awards
World Trad Song of the Year – Lole Lole Remix
2019 Adisq – World Music Album of the Yeat
2019 Juno Award – World Music
2019 Prix Coup de Coeur Académie Charles CROS
2017 Dynasty World Music Award
2016 Socan Music Award Hagood Hardy
2011 Galaxy Rising Star London
2010 Babel Med Music Award, France
2009-10 Révélation Radio-Canada
WESLI, un artiste ne et eleve en Ha’fti qui s’epanouit aujourd’hui au Canada, est un chanteur polyvalent, un multi-instrumentiste et un producteur qui est devenu l’un des ambassadeurs musicaux les plus inspirants d’Ha’fti.
Ses compositions uniques melent harmonieusement les rythmes traditionnels ha’ftiens a un eventail eclectique de styles qui refletent ses vastes influences et experiences musicales. La capacite de WESLI a fusionner les sons vibrants de son pays d’origine avec des genres contemporains a captive le public du monde entier.
Ne en 1980 a Port-au-Prince dans une famille aux moyens limites, son aventure musicale commence des son plus jeune age, lorsqu’il chante aux cotes de sa mere dans la chorale gospel de l’eglise locale. Son pere, Henri Louissaint, etait un joueur de banjo et de percussions bien connu dans le style twoubadou de la musique folklorique ha’itienne. Le desir de Wesli de servir sa societe l’a anime tout au long de sa vie, l’encourageant a creer le changement et a faire connaitre la culture ha’itienne a de nouveaux publics grace au pouvoir de sa musique.
WESLI a collabore et partage la scene avec Tiken Jah Fakoly, Magic System, Alpha Blondy et bien d’autres. Depuis 2008, Wesli s’est produit sur plus de 50 scenes de festivals majeurs au Canada, ainsi qu’en tournee dans le monde entier, livrant toujours des performances captivantes.