Wesli

Wesli is the stage name of Wesley Louissaint, a Haitian-Canadian musician. In 2019, Wesli received a Canadian Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. One of eight children raised in a home where music was a big part of daily life, it became a second nature to him, a way to escape the misery that surrounded him. Wesli built his first guitar out of an old NGO-provided oil can and nylon shoe lace when he was just eight years old. Be it in an acoustic formation (guitar, voice and percussion) or with his bigger band, Wesli consistently delivers a rich, festive and uniquely engaging sound. He conquers the heart of his audience through complex musical arrangements and universal messages of hope, truth and peace. Bringing together a wide range of Montreal and Haitian talents, Wesli's music unites Haitian voodoo and rara with roots, reggae, Afrobeat, electronic music and hip-hop flavors. Wesli's latest project is Tradisyon, an ambitious two-album project that explores the past and the future of Haitian music. The first volume of this epic work, Tradisyon, which focuses on Haitian roots, acoustic and traditional styles, was released digitally on July 15th, 2022, with a physical CD release in October 2022. It will be followed by Tradisyon, Vol. 2, a stunning exploration of new directions in Haitian music, blending traditional genres with electronic music, Afrobeat, soul, funk, hip-hop and more.