Wé Ani Talks Viral Success, Lessons From ‘The Voice’ For V Sessions

Harlem bred an anomaly, slowly taking over the music industry, and her name is Wé Ani.

The singer-songwriter grew in popularity on social media for the stark juxtaposition between her high-pitched speaking voice and her robust, lower-toned singing voice. It’s something that initially catches you off-guard— maybe reminding true R&B fans of Michel’le— but completely enthralls you enough to have you feigning for more.

Coincidentally, this superpower of hers is something that was often criticized. Some even thought she was faking it. “I laugh because most of the time people didn’t know that I sang,” the 26-year-old admitted. “I started acting and dancing before I was ever a singer […] And now people are like, ‘Wow, you are probably faking that.’ I’m like, ‘Do you know how hard it is to fake this voice?’ I deal with the criticism with a grain of salt, and it’s tongue in cheek because if you get people talking, then that’s good because it makes them think, ‘Oh, I’m going to find something about her.’ [I say], ‘Keep looking. You’re going to do your whole national treasure thing and you’re going to keep looking forever.’”

She stopped by VIBE’s NYC offices for V Sessions to prove her haters wrong with performances of “Hardwood,” her viral single, “Disgusted,” and a special cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” The latter was tossed in just to flex her range, and the fact that she can’t be boxed in.

When asked to break down who Wé is, she aptly defined herself through music and her favorite songwriters, which include James Fauntleroy, D’Mile, Sia, Tayla Parx, and Ryan Tedder. In terms of songs, she listed RAYE’s “Hard Out Here.,” Rihanna’s “Never Ending,” Bruno Mars’ “Too Good To Say Goodbye,” Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman,” and Queen’s “Who Wants To Live Forever.”

On the other hand, you may know the singer-dancer-actress from her time on The Voice and American Idol. Those brief stints taught Wé how to carry herself in “high intensity situations on camera,” how to cater to her audience during live performances— a skill that she’s already mastered— and why winning isn’t always the goal.

“I definitely think not winning it both times was the best thing that happened because it’s like underdog energy,” Wé said gleefully. “Unfortunately, when people see that there’s a winner, they’re like, ‘Oh, they’re set. Oh, they got it. They’ll be taken care of.’ And most of the time, that’s not the case […] Winning something doesn’t automatically mean that you’re going to be the most successful thing in the world. I think you should rely on your talent, your push, your drive to be able to get the things that you need to get. Because when you rely on other people, then you get disappointed.”

Idol winner Jordin Sparks also gave Wé fundamental advice on how to navigate the industry after the show. “She pulled me aside and was like, ‘Listen, just continue to be who you are. Continue to be honest.’,” Wé recalled. “I think you don’t realize how easy it is to maybe lose parts of yourself as you get more and more into the business and the industry.”

The best advice she’s gotten, though, is credited to Harlem, her hometown.

“Native New Yorkers carry a certain presence. Harlem has so much talent and [is] an amalgamation of a lot of different things, whether it comes to theater, dance, definitely singing. But that’s a necessary thing when you’re from there,” Wé explained. “It made it feel like everybody in every walk of life is able to have some sort of talent. There was always something. You were never not good at something. Being from Harlem, I feel gives you the advantage of not just the talent that’s around you, but the culture that’s constantly there. The melting pot of different people, the good food, the block parties, the camaraderie, the family. I think all of that takes account for everything that makes me me.”

For more from Wé, check out her full V Sessions chat and performances above.