Soul Perspectives is a long-running program creating space for critical discussion about local, national and international issues of concern to Montreal’s Black community.

Every Tuesday 7 - 8:30pm (EDT)

March 18, 2025: Interview w/Violinist - Kayiri

Welcome to Soul Perspectives, airing Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 PM EST.

Tonight, we feature Kayiri, a Montreal-based violinist, singer, rapper, and composer whose genre-defying artistry blends classical, jazz, and hip-hop. Trained at the Conservatoire de Montréal and UQAM, she has performed globally, collaborating with icons like Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Maître Gims, and Fatoumata Diawara. Her projects, including N’essence and the album 11Vivante11 (out last November 11, 2024), explore themes of resilience, healing, and empowerment, inspired by her journey through domestic violence.

Beyond music, Kayiri is a mental health advocate, leading writing workshops for Quebec youth and using art as a tool for healing. A Quebec boxing champion and Canadian Olympic vice-champion, she brings the same determination to her athletic pursuits. Her performances have graced stages like the Montreal Jazz Festival, and her compositions have been featured in films such as Mémoire Métisser, which premiered at Cannes in 2024. Kayiri’s mission is to inspire positivity and change through her transformative art.

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