Rolling over Bazin’s steel pans, his voice ebbs and flows like the ocean, even in a city as landlocked as Montréal. Kwenders’ monthly Moonshine party series has crafted a space bringing together young experimentalists from the city’s many Francophone communities, drawing in celebrities like Arcade Fire’s Win Butler to guest DJ, but though he’s a much loved community leader, Kwenders still shines as a bandleader.
And though the album’s digital beats sound modern, Kwenders is also looking back, basing “Ewolo”, for example, on older Congolese bands and dances that inspired him in his youth. Kwenders has spoken about the link between Bazin’s steel pans, a handmade street instrument tradition from Trinidad, and the Congolese traditions of street musicians making instruments by hand as well he says that was part of the draw for how he and Bazin conceived of the album. His new EP, Classe Tendresse, is a collaboration with Parisian electronic artist and percussionist Clément Bazin that also involves multiple remix projects highlighting other global sounds from Portugueuse producer Pedro Da Linha, French DJ Lazy Flow, and Montréal afrofuturists Nokliché. His voice is sweet like honey, ambling easily along a pathway that starts with Congolese soukous and rumbas, but ends up at the digital high-gloss sound of Africa today. He sings in five languages, represents his Congolese roots as easily as his status as a leader in Montréal’s cosmopolitan culture, and is driving a movement of young African artists in one of the most diverse cities in the world, turning heads for his community building and wide ranging eclecticism. Pierre Kwenders and Clément Bazin – Classe Tendresse EPĬlasse Tendresse by Pierre Kwenders, Clément BazinĬalling an artist a “Renaissance Man” may be a bit overused, but it’s hard to find other words to describe Montréal artist Pierre Kwenders ’ incredible range of musical talent. Some of this gets pretty “out there,” so buckle up! And, I wanted to cover some of the more intriguing experiments I’ve heard in the past year and also artists who are fearlessly breaking down barriers and developing new ideas in old music. I just interviewed Andrew Jervis of Bandcamp about Bandcamp Fridays so read that here if you’d like to find out more.įor August, I wanted to look at The Future of Trad, meaning music based on traditions but that travels far far afield to new climates. It’s been a wonderful way to support struggling artists during COVID and much love to Bandcamp for keeping it going. Hello and welcome back to our monthly roundup of great Bandcamp releases for Bandcamp Friday! Every first Friday of the month from now until the end of the year, Bandcamp is waiving all fees on music purchased on their site.
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