Wesli’s musical journey has gone from stringing up an oil can with nylon fishing string to winning a Juno for World Music Album of the Year. Born Wesley Louissaint in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he has grown into his role as a prolific songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Uniting a large cross-section of Montreal talent, his music links Haitian voudou and rara with roots, Afrobeat and hip-hop – guest spots on his albums include the likes of Tiken Jah Fakoly, Alpha Blondy, Radio, Radio and he has toured with Emeline Michel.
Since being crowned the Revelation Radio-Canada for 2009-2010, Wesli has gone onto win the Babel Med Music Prize (2010), SOCAN’s Hagood Hardy Award (2016), and a prize from l’Académie Charles Cros (2019) in addition to the Juno for Rapadou Kréyol (2019), and now Québec's ADISQ award. His touring calendar has taken him across North America, Haiti, Colombia, Brazil, Africa, and Europe, with participation in WOMEX, Mundial Montreal, and the Atlantic Music Expo in Cape Verde.
2018’s Rapadou Kréyol will be followed by a new, electronically-infused album, Tradisyon; it will be released internationally by Cumbancha in 2020.
"...rich in melody, rhythm and spirit..." 4 stars Songlines
"...his prime time billing demanded a prime time performance and we were not to be disappointed...Wesli played to the biggest crowd of the Festival" Songlines
