ABOUT
Meet Bel and Quinn, two sisters of Haitian origin who are making their mark on Canada’s music scene. Their sound is described as a captivating fusion of world music (Haiti), soul, jazz, and funk. Their live performances are said to be full of energy and emotion, thanks to the perfect harmony of their voices. Original songs like Hommage and L’île aux tambours highlight both Bel’s lyrical skills and Quinn’s compositional, arranging, and electric jazz guitar-playing abilities. Quinn honed her skills under renowned musicians like Sam Kirmayer, Mike Rud, and Mike Gauthier.
Nicknamed the Soul Sisters, the duo sings in English, Creole, and French. They have performed at several festivals, including Montreal’s Festival Nuits d’Afrique, Vancouver Folk Fest, Calgary Folk Fest, Québec Jazz en juin, and Haïti en Folie. They have also performed in many venues in Canada, such as the legendary Club Balattou, Pauline-Julien, Cabaret La Basoche, and Mount Elizabeth Theatre.
Drawing from their personal battles with anxiety and depression, the sibling duo sees songwriting as a curative power. Unafraid to discuss mental health, they openly share their experiences, including the challenges and triumphs. Most importantly, however, Bel and Quinn’s music embodies joy.
The duo stands out as leaders by giving a voice to women. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the creativity of Black women and artists. Notably, Quinn’s challenging academic journey, spanning from CEGEP to university, motivated Bel and Quinn to compose songs that honour the resilience and strength of women. Quinn overcame instances of profound humiliation and sexism during her studies in jazz guitar, a field largely dominated by men. This is how the duo promotes the talents of female musicians: they invite only women to play with them.
Recipients of a Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec grant (CALQ), Bel and Quinn released their first EP, Fanm nan dife , on September 10, 2021. Acclaimed Montreal saxophonist Beth McKenna acted as producer. The talented instrumentalists Josiane Rouette on trumpet, Valérie Lacombe on drums, and Stéphanie Jobin on bass rounded out the group. This EP gave the two sisters an unprecedented artistic experience. As an expression of healing, Bel and Quinn write music, hoping it will resonate with listeners, providing comfort to navigate life’s challenges.
In October 2023, the duo launched their first album, Donte sann yo. Thanks to this new project funded by the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), Bel and Quinn received their first nominations for the 2024 JUNO Awards for “Global Music Album of the Year” and ADISQ 2024 for “Album of the Year – Global Music.” More recently, they were finalists at the Gala Dynastie for “Global Music Group of the Year” (2025).