Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi[1] (born October 31, 1985, in Kinshasa, Zaire), a Congolese-Canadian musician.[2] His 2014 album Le Dernier empereur bantou was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015,[2] and a longlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.[3] Kwenders, who sings and raps in English, French, Lingala and Tshiluba,[1] is noted for blending both African music and western pop music influences, including hip hop and electronic music, into his style.[1]
Career
After immigrating to Canada with his mother as a teenager, he first attracted widespread attention for his guest contributions to Radio Radio's 2012 album Havre de Grace.[4]
He released the EPs Whiskey & Tea and African Dream in 2013,[4] and followed up with Le Dernier empereur bantou, his first full-length album, in 2014.[1] He supported the album with a cross-Canada tour in 2015.[2] His song "Mardi Gras", a collaboration with Jacques Alphonse "Jacobus" Doucet of Radio Radio, was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 SOCAN Songwriting Prize in the francophone division.[5]
He collaborated with Boogat on "Londres", a track on Boogat's 2015 album Neo-Reconquista.[6]
His second full-length album, Makanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time, was released in 2017.[7] The album was a shortlisted finalist for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize.[8]
In 2018, he had his first acting role in the film Les Salopes, or the Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin.
Following the release of Makanda, Kwenders came out as gay.[9]
He won the 2022 Polaris Music Prize for his album José Louis and the Paradox of Love.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d "Pierre Kwenders sing-raps in 4 languages". Montreal Gazette, October 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Pierre Kwenders Rolls Out Canadian Tour Dates, Poirier Remix". Exclaim!, February 4, 2015.
- ^ "Polaris Music Prize Announces 2015 Long List". Exclaim!, June 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "Quand les styles se mélangent". 24 heures, October 14, 2014.
- ^ "Cold Specks, Alvvays, Kiesza Nominated for SOCAN Songwriting Prize". Exclaim!, June 17, 2015.
- ^ "Boogat: Neo-Reconquista". Exclaim!, May 5, 2015.
- ^ "Pierre Kwenders is building a musical bridge between Africa and the rest of the world". Q, September 18, 2017.
- ^ "Polaris Music Prize Reveals 2018 Short List". Exclaim!, July 17, 2018.
- ^ Logan Cartier, "Pierre Kwenders et les subtilités de l’amour". Fugues, July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Pierre Kwenders wins 2022 Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
External links
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