Pierre Kwenders | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | José Louis Modabi |
Born | October 31, 1985 |
Origin | Kinshasa, Zaire |
Genres |
pop music world music |
Years active | 2012 | –present
Website |
www |
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]
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]