Pierre Kwenders is a Congolese musician who relocated to Montréal in 2001, there he started to nurture his passion for music while singing in a catholic choir in the city.

With two EPs and three full-length albums under his belt, the singer/songwriter has received multiple awards for his work reviving and reinterpreting Congolese rumba. He is also one of the founders of Moonshine, a collective that organises some of memorable global beats parties around the world, fuelled by his desire to share music without boundaries.

“Papa Wemba” is a single extracted from his latest album, José Louis and the Paradox of Love, released in April 2022 via Toronto-based label Arts & Crafts. The tune pays tribute to the iconic Congolese musician who deeply inspired Kwenders.

The song is also featured in his recent performance on KEXP, which you can watch in its entirety HERE.

Visions of Sound (October 2020)

Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist: TweetSharePin0 Shares

Artists: Clement Bazin , Elida Almeida , ILe , Lexsoul Dancemachine , Lost Horizons , Max Cooper , Pierre Kwenders , Rising Appalachia , Rodrigo Gallardo , Sabotage , Sam Amidon , Sirintip , The Nels Cline Singers , Thee Sacred Souls , Tigran Hamasyan , Xenia Rubinos