Waahli is a Montréal-based artist of Haitian descent. Raised in a family where music was ever-present, he grew up listening to traditional Haitian melodies by artists such as Tabou Combo, Coupé Cloué and Manno Charlemagne, and taught himself to play the guitar. Although heavily influenced by Haitian music, it was through hip hop that he developed his own style. With his traditional rhythms, brilliant beatboxing riffs and powerful lyrics, Waahli delivers an alternative hip hop that transports us to the four corners of the world. 

Waahli’s new EP, Saponification, co-produced with Lou Piensa, contains four songs and an introduction with Dice B from the show Nuit Blanche. The lyrics are mainly in French and Haitian Creole. In this musical context, Waahli explores themes such as solidarity within Montréal’s Haitian diaspora and human relationships, but also the importance of celebrating your own journey, listening to yourself and following your intuition. The rhythms and melodies are a blend of reggae, hip hop and Haitian funk.