rootwords press kit • october 2014

ROOTWORDS
PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014
PHOTO : ©TAJ
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 1/23
SUMMARY
BIOGRAPHY
Page 3
DISCOGRAPHY
Page 4
FEATURES
Page 5
RADIO
Page 6
PRESS
Page 8
TV
Page 18
WEB
Page 19
CONCERTS
Page 20
MUSIC VIDEOS
Page 21
AWARDS
Page 22
CONTACT
Page 23
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 2/23
BIOGRAPHY
Rootwords was born in the United States (of Zambian
origin) and grew up in Switzerland, where within the last
decade he has become an undeniable talent in the
international hip-hop scene. Since the age of 16, he
cultivated his love for hip-hop, the underground scene and
explosive beats. "A world citizen rapper" is a good way to
define the aesthetics of this artist who, through his texts
and music, expresses his attachment to multiculturalism,
diversity, and the world in general.
His first album, The Rush, released in Switzerland on the 28th of March and in France
on the 8th of April, reveals a rich urban sound with modern influences of hip-hop, soul
and reggae. In this album, Rootwords firmly grasps the sounds he blends by reflecting
a world that is in constant expansion, where there are no boarders, and where people
interlock. On the second song of the album, "Keep On", he journeys to a land of electric
hip-hop, where furious guitars and explicit rhymes blend perfectly. Right after, with
the calmness of "Mwansa" or the funky rhythm of "Cold Crush", we submerge into a
groovier universe, pleasuring the admirers of the first years of the movement. We then
take a sharp turn south with "Freedom Of Speech", between reggae and hip-hop,
embellished by the warm Jamaican voice of Denham Smith in the chorus: the fans of
this genre will not be disappointed.
Consequently, we can only salute the quality and talent of this combination of
instruments between the musicians, the djs, Redbioul and Kinyama Sounds, who
collaborate all together with Rootwords on this album to create a sound that is both
modern and organic.
Rootwords had already seduced the critics with his first projects (Press Rewind to
Begin in 2011 and All Good in 2013), particularly in Switzerland where he was elected
"Best Underground Artist" at the RepreZent Awards in 2010, won the "Demotape Clinic
Urban" prize at M4Music in Zurich in 2013 and took home the first "Urban Award" at
Swiss Live Talents in Bern at the end of 2013. He has shared the stage with high
profile artists, such as IAM, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Method Man and
Redman, at festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival.
Needless to say, this first album is more than welcome as it revives the flame of a hiphop that is engaged and urban, far from the invasive clichés of bling bling and gangsta
rap which prevail to this day. So don't miss The Rush, which might make you
reminiscent of an era where everything began and where Zulu Nation stated these very
words: "Peace, Love, Unity and Having Fun"!
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 3/23
DISCOGRAPHY
Non-exhaustive list
THE RUSH • LP • March 2014
1. What’s Going On
2. Keep On
3. Mwansa
4. Cold Crush
5. Freedom of Speech feat. Denham Smith
6. The Box
7. Heavy Work Load
8. Deep feat. Lyn M
9. Your Game
10. Get Busy
Produced by Kinyama Sounds
ALL GOOD • EP • January 2013
1. All Good
2. I Love This Game
3. Django
4. Miss Q
5. Fresh
6. Get Up feat. Larynx & Keumart
Bonus track: Just Amigos
Produced by Kinyama Sounds
ROOTWORDS & REDBIOUL
THE DOUBLE.R PROJECT • October 2011
18-track Mixtape
Produced by Redbioul
PRESS REWIND TO BEGIN • EP • June 2011
1. Say It
2. Reprezent
3. Let’s Go
4. I’m Gone (Back in a Minute) feat. LaMeduza
5. Between the Line feat. Raldo
6. Life’s a Journey
Produced by Kinyama Sounds
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 4/23
FEATURES
Non-exhaustive list
STEVANS
RUPTURE • January 2014
“The Backyard” featuring Rootwords
Produced by Stevans
BASTIAN BAKER
TOO OLD TO DIE YOUNG • September 2013
“Bewitched” featuring Rootwords
Produced by PAD Prod
SUMO
EX MACHINA • May 2013
“I Want Your Sweetness” featuring Rootwords
Produced by Sumo
CAULIFLOWER
CAULIFLOWER • December 2012
“Something I Never Did” featuring Rootwords & Dr Koul
Produced by Cauliflower
YVAN PEACEMAKER
THE ELIXIR • May 2012
“She’s Got Me” featuring Bastian Baker, Rootwords & Karolyn
Produced by Yvan Peacemaker
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 5/23
RADIO
Non-exhaustive list
2011
2013
2014
PLAYLISTS
Backstage Radio
All Good
August/….. 2014
Radio Campus Tours
Freedom of Speech
July/….. 2014
Radio Campus Rennes
Freedom of Speech
July/….. 2014
Radio Campus Clermont
Freedom of Speech
July/….. 2014
Couleur3
Freedom of Speech
June/….. 2014
SRF Virus
Freedom of Speech
June/….. 2014
Couleur3
Keep On
Feb./June 2014
SRF Virus
Cold Crush
March/June 2014
Kanal K
Heavy Work Load
April/… 2014
3Fach
Cold Crush
April/May 2014
Vertical
Keep On
April/….. 2014
Industrie
Mwansa
April/….. 2014
RVVS
Mwansa
April 2014
Le Mouv’
Miss Q.
May/June 2013
Couleur3
Miss Q.
Feb./March 2013
Radio 666
All Good
May/June 2013
Kanal K
All Good
Sept./Oct. 2013
Fréquence Mistral
Miss Q.
Feb./March 2013
Radio Activ’
Your Game
April/May 2014
Django
April/June 2013
Fresh
May 2013
Coloriage FM
I Love This Game
May 2013
Couleur3
Against the Grain
Nov./Dec. 2011
Set it Off
Nov./Dec. 2011
She Had Me (A-stout)
Jan./Feb. 2011
France Inter
AIRPLAYS
Le Mouv’
All Good
Couleur3
All Good, Miss Q., Django, The Box, Freedom of Speech…
RSI Rete 3
All Good
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 6/23
SRF Virus
All Good
Backstage Radio
Miss Q.
Stadtfilter
All Good
Coloriage FM
Miss Q., Just Amigos, I Love This Game
Canal B
Django, Just Amigos, I Love This Game
Fréquence Mistral
Deep, Mwansa, Django, Just Amigos, I Love This Game…
Activ’
Freedom of Speech, Django, Fresh…
Béton
All Good, I Love This Game
Primitive
All Good, Django
PFM
All Good, Miss Q.
Ballade
All Good, Django, Fresh, Just Amigos, I Love This Game…
Résonance
Keep On, Freedom of Speech, What’s Going On…
Campus Clermont
Your Game, Deep
Campus Tours
Deep, Mwansa
Campus Rennes
Cold Crush, What’s Going On, Keep On
Graf’hit
All Good, Just Amigos
RaBe
Freedom of Speech, Deep
RADIO SHOW AND INTERVIEW
Etikett Radio / The Rich Jay Show / July 24th, 2014 (itw & live show broadcasted)
Radio Laser / Dance All Together show / June 23rd, 2014 (with KingPin from UK)
Agora FM / Made In Africa / May 9th, 2014 / Interview
Radio Industrie / Realtalk / May 7th, 2014 / Interview
RFI / Bande Passante / May 5th, 2014 / Interview & Live report
One FM / Un café, l’addition / March 21st, 2014 / Interview
RSI Rete 3 / March 28th, 2014 / Interview
Couleur3 / Showcase m4music / March 27th, 2014 / Interview & Live
Radio Virus / m4music / March 27th, 2014 / Interview
RTS 1ière / Paradiso / March 27th, 2014 / Interview
Couleur3 / Album of the week (Plein le Poste) / March 24th-28th 2014
Rhône FM / Studio 4 / March 24th-28th 2014 / Interview & album presentation
Couleur3 / Republik Kalakuta / March 23rd, 2014 / Interview
Rhône FM / March 21st, 2014 / Interview
Le Mouv’ / Rodéo sur le Mouv’ / April 2013 / Interview & showcase
IDFM / Vibes / April 2013 / Interview & showcase
One FM / February & March 2013 / Interview
Rhône FM / March 2013 / Interview
RTS 1ière / Paradiso / February 2013 / Interview & Live
Couleur3 / Downtown Boogie / February 2013 / Interview
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 7/23
PRESS
Non-exhaustive list
Le Phare – September 2014 (France)
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Reggae Vibes (cd sampler) – July 2014 (France)
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Amina – June 2014 (France)
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L’Illustré – April 23rd, 2014 (Switzerland)
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Migros Mag – March 17th, 2014 (Switzerland)
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20Minutes – March 14th, 2014 (Switzerland)
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Tribune de Genève - March 13th, 2014 (Switzerland)
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Frontier Magazine n°3 - July/August 2013 (Switzerland)
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Le Courrier – April 24th, 2013 (Switzerland)
(http://www.lecourrier.ch/108015/la_force_tranquille)
« La force tranquille » par Roderic Mounir
ROOTWORDS • Flanqué d’un groupe au complet, le rappeur américano-genevois d’origine
zambienne est à l’Usine jeudi. L’aube d’une carrière.
On est d’emblée frappé par la qualité du son. Le beat est lourd, entre les abstractions hachées
du dubstep et le balancement d’un hip-hop aérien. Les arrangements enrobent le tout dans
une vibration planante. Et il y a ce flow lâché avec l’assurance des plus grands (Tupac,
Eminem), cool et sans hargne, ponctué par un leitmotiv, « It’s All Good » – tout va bien. Malgré
les doutes, les échecs, les ruptures, car « tout arrive pour une raison », philosophe Rootwords
dans un anglais fluide. C’est que le rappeur genevois d’origine zambienne – il s’appelle en
réalité Julio Mwansa Nkowane – a vu le jour aux Etats-Unis et étudié en Angleterre et en
Australie. All Good est un maxi six titres qui mêle habilement rap, soul-funk et électro. Le
morceau-titre a valu à son auteur, dont le nom est inspiré par ses idoles The Roots et
Wordsworth, une victoire dans la catégorie « urbaine » du tremplin M4 Music, organisé sous
l’égide du Pour-cent culturel Migros.
Rencontre avec Rootwords avant son concert de jeudi sur la scène de l’Usine, à Genève, où il
sera accompagné par un groupe live au complet, les Block Notes, et les visuels de Sophie le
Meillour.
Du droit au hip-hop
« J’ai commencé à rapper vers 1999, lorsque j’étais interne au collège adventiste de Watford,
près de Londres. Il y avait très peu d’activités, on n’avait pas le droit de regarder la télé ni
d’écouter la radio. Je me suis lancé dans mes premiers freestyles en imitant mes modèles
américains, avant d’écrire mes propres rimes sur les encouragements de mes amis. »
De la Zambie de ses parents à la Suisse, où ils sont venus travailler à l’OMS, en passant par
son Connecticut natal, le trajet de Rootwords s’explique par l’histoire de l’ex-colonie
britannique. « Issu de la première génération de l’Indépendance, obtenue en 1964, mon père a
pu étudier à Yale grâce à des soutiens étatiques. » Rootwords, lui, a étudié le droit et les
relations internationales avant de bifurquer vers la musique, sa passion. « J’ai vécu au
confluent de plusieurs cultures, mais c’est en Suisse que se trouvent mes fondations. La vie y
est moins stressante qu’à Londres et artistiquement plus intéressante qu’en Australie. »
Les opportunités affluent
Une mixtape puis un premier EP, le rappeur est pris sous l’aile de Kinyama Sounds, label
genevois plutôt orienté reggae. Les métissages musicaux sont de rigueur, approche organique
qu’appuient Stan Breynaert (basse), Yoann Julliard (batterie), Thierry Corboz (claviers) et
Romain Tinguely-Mabillard (sax). « Le public préfère un groupe live à des types derrière des
platines. Cela tranche aussi avec certains clichés qui collent au rap », explique Rootwords, qui
revendique de passer d’un texte festif à d’autres plus profonds. « J’évoque des émotions
vécues avec mes mots : l’amour, les constats du quotidien comme le fait d’être black en
Suisse car je reste un étranger dans le regard des gens... »
Le Genevois a en tout cas la cote auprès des organisateurs de concerts, si l’on en croit les
opportunités qui affluent : première partie de Public Enemy aux Docks le 1er mai, Festi’neuch
aux côtés de Nas, Tricky et Wax Tailor le 30 mai, et une date à la Bellevilloise à Paris le 18
mai, notamment. Un nouveau clip est sur le feu, avant l’album prévu début 2014.
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 17/23
TV
MTV (Switzerland & Germany) • July 2014
“Freedom of Speech” music video enters MTV’s playlist
JOIZ TV (Switzerland) • June 17th, 2014
Interview & 1 song performed live on “Home Run Battle” show
TVM3 (Switzerland) • June 13th, 2014
Interview on “Swiss Pop Music” show
ROUGE TV (Switzerland) • June 7th, 2014
Interview & live report from Caribana Festival 2014
CANAL9 (Switzerland) • June 14th, 2014
Interview & 1 song performed live on the “Marmelade” show
LA TELE (Switzerland) • April 18th, 2014
1 song performed live with Dj Cello (“Heavy Work Load”)
CANAL+ Afrique (France & Africa) • April 11th, 2014
Album review - The Rush
CANALSTREET (France) • April 8th, 2014
Exclusive broadcasting of the music video “Keep On”
L’Enôrme TV (France) • May 16th, 2013
1 song performed live on “Le Fat Show”
JOIZ TV (Switzerland) • March 7th, 2013
Interview & 1 song performed live on “Living Room” show
Canal 9 (Switzerland) • February 5th, 2013
Interview & 1 song performed live on “L.E.D.” show
RTS (Switzerland) • May & September 2012
2 songs performed live with the Block Notes on “Plein le Poste” show
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 18/23
WEB
Non-exhaustive list
Tafmag.com • September 3rd, 2014
http://tafmag.com/rootwords-le-rap-deracine/
Tink.ch • June 30th, 2014
http://www.tink.ch/nouveau/article/2014/06/30/un-rap-federateur/
20Min.ch • June 6th, 2014
http://www.20min.ch/ro/musique/dossier/caribanaquatorz/story/16595314
Les InRocks.com • May 12th, 2014
http://www.lesinrocks.com/2014/05/12/musique/lobservatoire-du-rap-game-83-11503631/
OpenMinded • May 8th, 2014
http://opnminded.com/blog/interviews/08-05-2014/rootwords-interview-rap-suisse-28741
Migros Pour Cent Culturel • May 8th, 2014
http://www.pour-cent-culturel-migros.ch/Magazine/Portraits/Un-rappeur-a-l-ascensionfulgurante
La Côte • May 7th, 2014
http://www.lacote.ch/fr/nosdossiers/nos-chroniques-de-disques/articles/du-hip-hop-a-lancienne-2889-1291065
LeCourrier.ch • May 3rd, 2014
http://www.lecourrier.ch/120542/le_rock_veut_plus_d_argent
The WebTape • April 30th, 2014
http://www.thewebtape.net/rootwords-interview/33680
20Min.ch • April 15th, 2014
http://www.20min.ch/ro/musique/clip_de_jour/story/14105225
Reprezent.ch • April 11th and May 22nd, 2014
http://reprezent.ch/?p=28585 | http://reprezent.ch/?p=28896
The WebTape • April 10th, 2014
http://www.thewebtape.net/decouvrez-rootwords/
Aightgenossen • April 8th, 2014
http://www.aightgenossen.ch/portal_hiphopmag.php?art_art=art&art_id=116883&ns=
Now Playing Mag • March 28th, 2014
http://www.nowplaying-mag.com/2014/03/decouverte-la-touche-du-rappeur-undergroundrootwords/
20Min.ch • March 13th, 2014
http://www.20min.ch/ro/musique/news/story/14143585
TDG.ch • January 10th, 2014
http://www.tdg.ch/culture/musique/rootwords-mc-funky-complexe-prepareshow/story/30457456
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 19/23
CONCERTS
Non-exhaustive list
2014
20/12 – Espace Le Bois aux Dames / Samoens / France
15/11 – Rock Fest / Vaud / Switzerland
01/11 – Jazz Onze+ Festival / Lausanne / Switzerland
30/10 – Montreux Jazz Café / Paris / France
24/10 – CMJ Left Field / New York / USA
22/10 – CMJ Living Room / New York / USA
17/10 – Moods / Zürich / Switzerland
11/10 – Le Forum / Vauréal / France
27/09 – Bikini Test / Chaux-de-Fonds / Switzerland
20/09 – Label Suisse Festival / Lausanne / Switzerland
05/09 – RSI Rete 3 Label Suisse Session / Lugano / Switzerland
01/08 – Reggae Sun Ska / Bordeaux / France
26/07 – Across Berlin (Fluxbau) / Berlin / Germany
25/07 – Across Berlin (Yaam) / Berlin / Germany
24/07 – Across Berlin (House of Weekend) / Berlin / Germany
23/07 – Across Berlin (Klunkerkranich) / Berlin / Germany
22/07 – Across Berlin (Monkey Bar) / Berlin / Germany
27/06 – Week-end au Bord de l’Eau / Sierre / Switzerland
21/06 – Open Air Wipkingen / Zurich / Switzerland
20/06 – Fête de la musique / Monthey / Switzerland
06/06 – Caribana Festival / Crans / Switzerland
31/05 – Fully Bouge / Fully / Switzerland
24/05 – Fête de l’Espoir / Geneva / Switzerland
01/05 – Unilive / Lausanne / Switzerland
18/04 – La Bellevilloise / Paris / France
17/04 – Molodoï / Strasbourg / France
16/04 – SAT Epfl / Lausanne / Switzerland
11/04 – Ninkasi Café / Lyon / France
28/03 – M4Music Festival / Zurich / Switzerland
27/04 – Showcase Couleur3/M4Music Festival / Switzerland
22/03 – Ebullition / Bulle / Switzerland
15/03 – Undertown (Vernissage « The Rush ») / Switzerland
01/03 – Amalgame / Yverdon / Switzerland
23/01 – Chat Noir / Geneva / Switzerland
2013
About 30 shows in venues/festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival, Caprices Festival
x2, L’Usine, Les Docks, La Bellevilloise, Festi’neuch, JVAL, etc.
Stage shared with international artists such as Cypress Hill, Redman & Method Man,
Public Enemy, Féfé, The Procussions, etc.
2012
About 20 shows in venues/festivals such as L’Usine, Tohu-Bohu Festival, Reggae
Serbia Festival, Chat Noir, Undertown, etc.
Stage shared with international artists such as IAM, Ice Cube, Danakil, Dead Prez,
Bastian Baker, etc.
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 20/23
MUSIC VIDEOS
Non-exhaustive list
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFSzDOeuo4c
Directed and edited by Mei Fa Tan
2014
KEEP ON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLMaCAsgJEA
Directed and edited by Mei Fa Tan
2014
DJANGO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjD7HrWS6rw
Directed by Christian Meuwly
Edited by GanzHQ
2013
ALL GOOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UgcAw8W24
Directed and edited by GanzHQ
2013
MISS Q.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuRAeX6w2hc
Directed and edited by Kelly Crummie
DOP by Rosy Lobster Pictures
2013
JUST AMIGOS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtQfKjQAw3g
Directed and edited by GanzHQ
Illustrations by Cyril Obadia
2012
REPREZENT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOlmTuRs1O0
Directed and edited by Progressive Pictures
2011
ROOTWORDS • PRESS KIT • OCTOBER 2014 - 21/23
AWARDS
2013
« Urban Award »
Swiss Live Talents
http://swisslivetalents.ch/
Bern, Switzerland
2013
« Urban » Demotape Clinic
M4Music
http://www.m4music.ch/fr/demotape-clinic/hall-of-fame
Zürich, Switzerland
2010
« Underground » artist
RepreZent Awards
http://reprezent.ch/?p=13514
Lausanne, Switzerland
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CONTACT
MANAGEMENT
Address
C/o Nicolas Duboux
11 avenue Sainte-Cécile
CH-1217 Meyrin
Switzerland
Stan Breynaert
[email protected]
+33 (0)6 20 74 03 93 / +41 (0)79 304 61 15
Nicolas Duboux
[email protected]
+41 (0)79 786 01 32
BOOKING SWITZERLAND
Insomniacs
David Michaud
[email protected]
+41 (0)78 896 22 32
LABEL SWITZERLAND
Kinyama Records
Nicolas Duboux
[email protected]
MEDIA SWITZERLAND
Kinyama Sounds
Stan Breynaert
[email protected]
BOOKING FRANCE
LABEL FRANCE
Soulbeats Records
Vianney Liesenborghs
[email protected]
MEDIA FRANCE
Soulbeats Records
Sarah Mokni
[email protected]
+ BELGIUM / PORTUGAL
Music’Action Prod
Léa Mazzega
[email protected]
+33 (0)6 50 60 44 32
Website: http://www.rootwordsmusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rootwordsmusic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/rootwordsmusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rootwords
Dailymotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/rootwords
Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/rootwords
MX3: http://www.mx3.ch/artist/rootwords
Sonicbids: http://www.sonicbids.com/rootwords
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