Wendy McIntyre: Power of One

Day 10 | Black Futures Cypher – The Power of One

For Wendy McIntyre, music has always been a vehicle for uplift, continuity, and care. North Carolina–born and DMV-raised, McIntyre has been immersed in R&B since childhood—shaped by the sounds of LTD, Donny Hathaway, Whitney Houston, and Faith Evans. That lineage is evident in her work today: lush orchestration, soulful melodies, and heartfelt lyrics that honor love, life, and legacy.

A self-described R&B ambassador, Wendy’s mission is clear—to help build a new generation of R&B lovers while elevating the genre through excellence in performance and thoughtfully curated live experiences. Her voice carries tradition forward without nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; instead, it invites listeners into a living, breathing continuum of Black music.

Wendy has performed across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, including Atlanta, Wilmington (NC), and Indianapolis, and at major venues and festivals such as AFRAM, NCNW’s Black Family Reunion, Blues Alley, Artscape, Twinz Jazz, Teavolve, Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival, National Harbor’s Summer Sounds Music Series, and Columbia Lakefront Concert Series. Her music has been featured on SiriusXM Radio, WUSA 9’s Great Day Washington, and multiple FM formats. Her debut EP The Anthem and her single I Cried are available on all digital and streaming platforms.

The Power of One

For Wendy McIntyre, The Power of One is grounded in Black culture, faith, and resilience. Her art celebrates Black people and is rooted in the legacy of R&B and gospel—traditions that have long illuminated humanity through music and the arts. From her earliest memories, she witnessed how creativity could lift spirits and connect people across circumstance, a truth that continues to guide her work.

Art, Multiplication, and Black Futures

Wendy’s contribution to shaping Black futures centers on multiplication—turning what you have into something that benefits many. Her piece for the Black Futures Cypher was inspired by personal experience: watching elders use whatever resources were available—little or much—and transform them into something meaningful that extended beyond their immediate circle. That ethos animates her songwriting and performances, affirming that impact isn’t about abundance; it’s about intention.

Lyrics like “Me plus you / We can multiply our efforts” underscore her belief that collective action expands possibility. In Wendy’s vision, Black futures are built through stewardship, collaboration, and the courage to make something from what’s already in hand.

Influence, Community, and Creative Blueprint

Wendy credits a wide range of independent artists and collectives for shaping her journey—among them Deborah Bond, Kevin Jackson, PatriceLIVE, Tolumide, Von Vargas, Temika Moore, Creative Nomads, Storytellers, and Tamara Wellons. Their examples showed her how art meets community—and that it’s possible to design your own blueprint and still succeed.

This community-centered approach informs how Wendy moves as an artist: grounded, generous, and committed to excellence that serves more than the self.

One Action Toward Collective Change

Her call to action is simple and actionable: use one of your gifts—your voice, time, or resources—to amplify justice and effect change. “It really only takes a single commitment,” she says, “to move the needle forward.” Run your leg of the race, pass the baton, and trust the next one to carry it further.

Follow Wendy McIntyre:
Instagram: @wendymcintyremusic
TikTok: @wendymcmusic
Facebook: Wendy McIntyre is the Ladysoulsinger
YouTube: wendymcintyremusic
Website: wendymcintyre.com

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About the Series: 28 Days of Black Futures

This artist profile is part of 28 Days of Black Futures, a month-long cultural offering presented by CLLCTIVLY, a Baltimore-rooted ecosystem cultivating collective imagination, narrative power, and resource mobilization for Black futures.

Throughout February, the award-winning Black Futures Cypher—architected by Jamye Wooten and produced under the creative direction of Von Vargas—features 28 artists, one each day, sharing original work inspired by this year’s theme, The Power of One.

A new artist feature is released daily during Black History Month. Learn more and support the ecosystem behind this work at cllctivly.org.