Singer, songwriter and mental health advocate, Montreal born, Woodney Pierre’s music and actions are all bound by faith, love and hope. Her music is deeply rooted in classical, jazz but deeply passionate about soul, kompa and zouk, her vocal ability is undeniably impressive.
Backing up artists such as Canadian sensation Luke James (McMaster & James) and opening for artists such as Kassav’ and Harmonik, she is not foreign to the stage. In fact, the stage is where she feels the most at home. Her voice and presence have graced many Canadian iconic stages such as Kroner Hall and many festivals in the Toronto area, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival where she has performed primarily jazz, as well as zouk covers, bringing this underrated music to broader audiences.
Her music marries beautifully her Haitian roots with her love of soul music. Woodney grew up in Toronto, a city girl at heart, following her mother to practices and performances. Daughter of an opera singer, she followed in these footsteps. Singing at school, church choir in her youth, shadowed by her presence in the Sault Saint-Marie Royal Conservatory, she found herself through music. It became and has remained an intricate part of who she is and how she relates with the world.
To honour her late brother, in 2012, Woodney Pierre founded the Matty Jae Youth Foundation. In the belief to not only educate youth on the subject of mental illness but to continue the same drive Matthew had for the arts, among youth. The Matty Jae Youth Foundation not only embodies elements of who Matthew was, and his dream and passion for the arts, but also seeks to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourages those who are directly and indirectly affected by mental illness and suicide to speak up and continue in their role as supporters. Matthew demonstrated to all whose life he touched that each life is valuable and priceless, his legacy will live on.
Currently, she is exploring her skills as a songwriter which will enhance her many talents and continue in her healing journey, in hopes to help others heal as well.Her voice is mighty, her tone is smooth, her faith is strong and her music is here to stay. Her first single ICI produced by Ottawa based Jos DaGreatest at the B.O.D.B. Studio, a collaboration she hopes to pursue. The single is distributed by APCM and will available on all streaming platforms as of May 18th 2021.
