Mild. Awkward. Ear-piercing. Some call him a paradox: The soulful nerd with the huge voice. His name is Kenny Wesley. ”My mom said I came out the womb screaming, and I’ve been screaming every since!” he jests. The North Carolina born, D.C.-based artist has a voice that can shatter glass, lilt with the tenderness of a soul crooner, sing a Mexican lullaby, or bust out the stank. With an acclaimed EP, a dozen collaborations, seven compilation features, and a slew of high-profile performances under his belt, Kenny has firmly placed his stamp on the burgeoning modern Soul movement. When not performing or recording, he works as a freelance interpreter/translator and language instructor. ”I speak Spanish and French fluently and can converse in a few other languages. I visualize and approach music and languages the exact same way; they’re more connected than many would think,” he says. Kenny’s currently knee-deep in a game-changing album project with L.A.-based producer and musical kindred Noah Lifschey, who’s signature cutting-edge sounds are a staple in the TV and music world, ranging from So You Think You Can Dance? and America’s Best Dance Crew to the MTV Movie and Music Awards, and various record labels. ”Noah and I want this album to serve as an authentic alternative to the traditional, watered-down R&B. We comin’ with that fatback. That stank, raw soul music, wrapped in a progressive, modern gift wrap. We’re both fans of artists like Sly Stone, Larry Graham, and that influence will definitely come through on the project — but he’s gotten me hip to so many other tight cats over this process, my brain’s on funky overload – and I love it.”