Rara - Afrobeat Groove Machine
NEWS !!!
Wesli's musical career looks like a success story: he began by building his own guitar at the age of 8, with oil cans left behind by NGOs and fishing ropes he found on the beach in Haiti; then 30 years later in 2019, he won 3 prestigious awards for his 5th album, “Rapadou Kreyol”:
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JUNO AWARD “World Music Album 2019” (Canada)
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FÉLIX DE L’ADISQ PRIZE "World Music Album 2019" (Canada)
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Favorite of the CHARLE CROS Academy (France)
It seems that nothing can stop the tremendous visibility that is taking place around Wesli and his music.
Indeed, this committed artist never ceases to seduce the music industry. From Canada through Haiti and France, from anglophones to francophones, everyone recognizes the merits and talent that this excellent opus carries.
After having traveled through several countries in 2019 (Switzerland, England, France, Italy, Haiti, South Korea, USA, Canada ...), Wesli is restarting the year 2020 with a promotional tour in the USA, which will transport him in particular to New Orleans for a international showcase for the Folk Alliance conference, as well as in New York for the APAP conference.
With this 5th album "Rapadou Kreyol", released in July 2019 as a preview in Canada, the land of Wesli, he proves that he can still surprise us.
"Rapadou Kreyol" puts traditional Haitian music back at the heart of our daily lives. This tribute takes root in the Haitian rituals of Lakou Dahomé and Lakou Congo, in traditional musical forms with modern accents, supported by a powerful groove and ingeniously fresh arrangements. Sung completely in the Creole of the descendants of Yoruba, this new opus by Wesli seems to breathe new life into rhythms such as Petro, Congo, Rada, Nago, Rara ... and instruments such as rara, violin, accordion, percussion, banjo ...
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
DOWNLOAD 2019 MEDIA RELEASE " RAPADOU KREYOL"
MUSIC
VIDEOS
Wesli Channel
Wesli Channel
WESLI Lolé Lolé Live
Wesli Wongol O 2019
Wesli Mon konpe unplugged
MEDIA RELEASES
- “…the most formidable creature in world music Montreal presently has to offer the rest of the planet”
Alain Brunet (La Presse, 2015)
- “It sounds like it would be overwhelming, but it works. The entire album has this affect on the listener, who cannot ignore how the sound effects and reverb make the most classical sounds transcend into the 21st Century […] This album is a truly incredible ride.“
Kristy Rose (Top Shelf Reggae)
- “… no matter how far afield his ears and travels take him, he always hears something that links, very naturally, back to Haiti.“
Luana Grandani, (Reggae Groove)
- "…touching, human and revelatory texts by an authentic artist who benefits from being better known.”
Patrick Baillargeon (voir.ca)
Juno Award World Music Album of the Year 2019
Prix Coup de Coeur de l'Académie Charles Cros 2019
Prix Félix Meilleur Album de Musique du Monde ADISQ 2019
Socan World Music Hagood Hardy Award 2016
Galaxie Rising Star Award London 2011
Prix Babel Med Music France 2010
Révélation Radio-Canada 2009-10
BIOGRAPHY
Wesli is a born troubadour and committed artist whose groove machine fuses afrobeat, reggae and Haitian rara into an energetic and irresistible performance. The multi-instrumentalist and producer-songwriter testifies on behalf of his people in a festive, original and enthralling musical universe, conquering hearts and minds.
Wesli was Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wesli (Wesley Louissaint) built his first guitar out of an old NGO- provided oil can and nylon shoe lace when he was just eight years old. Coming from a family of 8 children where music was a daily food for the soul, it became second nature to him, a unique and vital way out of the violence and misery found in the surrounding ghetto. Wesli’s musical journey started in the gospel choir of his local church and then he adopted the guitar as his main instrument.
Ever since, Wesli has worked relentlessly, perfecting his art, his only hope for a better life. Very early, he took part in serious projects such as the afro-roots Jazz 4ever quartet and SoKute. He performed in many of Haiti’s concert halls and traveled abroad with Kreyol Mizik company. In his teens, Wesli produced and recorded the album Horizon with SoKute. Their soul music gathered wide success and even made them famous outside Haiti.
PRESS RELEASES
In English : BLACK GROOVES fROOTS ROOTS WORLD MUSIC OF THE MONTH TOP SHELF REGGAE AFROPOP WORLDWIDE AFROPOP WORLDWIDE 2019 ALL ABOUT JAZZ MIDWEST RECORD ZONA REGGAE
En Français : RFI - COULEURS TROPICALES TELERAMA RFI LE NATIONAL MAG HAITI (2) RADIO CANADA LOOP HAITI COUP SUR RADIO NOVA
En Española : VISTAR PLANETA JONDO PIRINEOS SUR HAVANA WORLD MUSIC FEST EL MUNDO RTP (portugês)
DISCOGRAPHY
ImmiGranD (2015)
Ayiti Etoile Nouvelle (2015)
Liberté dans le Noir (2012)
Kouraj (2009)
LIVE ON THE ROAD 2019
ASIA (2019)
17 Mai Suseong World Music Festival Daegu, South Korea
18 Mai Seoul Music Week Seoul, South Korea
19 Mai Jazztonic Festival Cheongju, South Korea
EUROPE (2019)
8 Juin Afropfingsten Festival Winterthur, Swizerland
15 Juin Post Club Napoli, Italy
19 Juin Band on the Wall Festival Manchester, UK
22 Juin Africa Oye Festival Liverpool, UK
24 Juin La Bellevilloise (Lancement) Paris, France
31 août Vidor Festival Nyíregyháza, Hungary
CANADA (2019)
3 juillet Rosemont , QC
4 juillet Jazz Fest, Montreal QC
6- 7 juillet Weekend du monde
13 juillet Kitchener ON
19 juillet Nuit d’Afrique, Montreal QC
20 juillet Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal QC
27 juillet Toronto City, ON
2 août Magog
4 août Toronto Parc, ON
8 août Sherbrooke QC
17 août Fantôme Théâtre Vermont
23 août Congrès Mondial Acadien, Moncton NB
2 sept Mondokarnaval Québec QC
8 sept Multiculti festival Kingston ON
8-9 nov Francofete Acadie Moncton NB
15 Nov La Clé, Penetanguishine, ON
(2020)
8 jan SOB’s, NYC, NY (USA)
10-14 jan APAP New York NY (USA)
15 Jan Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL (USA)
22-26 Jan Folk Alliance International, New Orleans LA (USA)
7 - 14 Mar MASA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
29 mars Centre Culturel de Hearst, ON (Canada)
28 avril Convocation Hall U of T, Toronto ON (Canada)
1 Aug Africa Fest ( Emmindengen, Deutschland)