The music world has taught us that brothers often make terrible bandmates. But sisters? If Montreal’s Bel and Quinn are any indication, a sisterly connection can be the key to flawless musical harmony.

The sisters are of Haitian origin and that background, combined with experiences in the bustling multi-disciplinary Montreal music scene, helped them to create a distinctive style that draws on Haitian music, soul, jazz and funk, while singing in French, English and Creole. They’re nicknamed “The Soul Sisters” for good reason — the two women’s voices blend together seamlessly with a remarkable smoothness that intermingles with the guitars, horns and gentle rhythms of their songs. Each sister plays a unique role in the pairing: Bel is the duo’s lyricist while Quinn is an accomplished jazz guitar player, also composing and arranging the music.

While it would be perfectly natural to just sway along to that wash of sound, audiences should also pay attention to those lyrics: as Black women in the Canadian music industry, Bel and Quinn have a lot to say. They channel experiences with sexism and discrimination into their songs, also regularly touching on topics like mental health and struggles with anxiety and depression. Determined to act as leaders in a male-dominated field, Bel and Quinn also hire skilled women musicians to accompany them on stage and in the studio, bringing a celebration of healing and feminine power to every one of their live shows.

- Elizabeth Chorney-Booth