Gayance^QC/PT

Image credit: Bruno Aïello Destombes

Haitian-Canadian artist Gayance (Aïsha Vertus), born in Montréal, blends jazzy house, Brazilian rhythms, and London’s broken beat tradition into emotionally charged, groove-heavy sets. Performing for over a decade, she lit up stages from Panorama Bar to Montreux Jazz Festival, with a sound shaped by LA’s beat scene and UK bruk. Drawing on Afro-diasporic heritage and electronic experimentation, her performances are both soulful and vibrant. Her name, taken from the Haitian Creole word for “joy,” captures the spirit she brings to dancefloors around the world.

funkywhat, beatmaker and producer Nader Abouzeid, first emerged on the Montréal scene in 2018 with his production work on Magi Merlin’s debut EP On My Way to the Listening Party. Rooted in soul and R&B, he developed a signature style by remixing acapellas from artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, and Rihanna.

Harvey Drumz, whose real name is Harvey Bien-Aimée, is a drummer born in Paris and based in Montréal. Influenced by legends such as Dennis Chambers and Vinnie Colaiuta, he stands out across multiple genres — from gospel and jazz to funk and pop music.

Hua Li’s project has often worked the fruitful tension between opposing forces, whether being mixed-race, bisexual, or overtly political and softly vulnerable. An artful collaborator, Hua Li co-wrote and performed on Gayance's 2023 Polaris short-listed album, Mascarade.

Judith Little-D has explored Montréal’s music scene for over a decade. A versatile vocalist and arranger, she shines as the lead voice on Gayance’s Moon Rising (10 Years), praised by Gilles Peterson. With credits alongside Charlotte Cardin, Hubert Lenoir, and more, she now steps forward as musical director and lead performer.

Magi Merlin steps into the spotlight with Gone Girl, her boldest release yet. Teaming up with longtime collaborator funkywhat, she blends 90s house, drum & bass, Motown, and acid-tinged hip-hop. With jazzy scats, sharp-tongued rap, and breakbeats, she confronts generational angst, suburban racism, and the rush of hedonism with cheeky defiance.

Yassin "Narcy" Alsalman is a Montréal-based artist, professor, author, and cultural theorist. A leading voice in diasporic hip-hop, he first gained recognition as The Narcicyst before evolving into NARCY — a multidisciplinary project spanning music, film, academia, and activism.

Waahli is a Montréal-based artist of Haitian origins and a founding member of the hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive. Navigating between rap, afrobeat, and traditional music, he crafts a hybrid sound where English, French, and Haitian Creole coexist. His projects pay tribute to his roots through a style that is both committed, intimate, and rhythmically driven.

Gayance — Roaming in Chaos
Live | World Premiere

Gayance returns to Montréal with a magnetic live set alongside seven top local musicians, weaving UK Garage, broken beats, and alt-R&B into a soulful narrative. Premiering tracks from her upcoming album Roaming, she transforms personal rites of passage into raw, danceable storytelling you won’t want to miss.