ROOTWORDS
PRESS KIT • JUNE 2016
PHOTO : ©AXELPHELIPON
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BIOGRAPHY
Julio Mwansa Nkowane, a.k.a Rootwords, was born in the United States (of Zambian
origin) and grew up in Switzerland. Since the age of 16, he’s 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.
He released his first solo album The Rush in 2014. This project revealed a rich urban
sound with modern influences of hip-hop, soul and reggae. Tracks such as “Keep On”,
“Freedom of Speech” and “Cold Crush” were broadcasted on national radios in
Switzerland and France, and got a great response from the crowd during his live
shows in Europe and America.
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.
Since 2012, he has shared the stage with high profile artists, such as IAM, Cypress
Hill, Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Method Man and Redman, Jay Electronica, Dj
Shadow and Cut Chemist, Groundation, Tiken Jah Fakoly, The Original Wailers,
Naughty Boy, The Procussions, Dope D.O.D, Akua Naru, and more. He has performed
with his live band, The Block Notes, at major festivals and venues such as Montreux
Jazz Festival, Paleo Festival, Rototom Sunsplash, Reggae Sun Ska, m4music,
Caribana Festival, Festi’Neuch, Bars en Trans, Caprices Festival, CMJ in New York,
Yaam in Berlin, le Bikini in Toulouse, Rote Fabrik in Zurich, La Bellevilloise and Centre
FGO in Paris.
Rootwords is releasing his new EP Inappropriate Behaviour this year: one song of this
new project will be released every 25th of the month, starting from January 2016. It
will be available for free download along with a video shared on various social media
platforms.
“It is all about World Hip Hop”
DISCOGRAPHY
Non-exhaustive list
Inappropriate Behaviour • EP • Jan-June 2016
Just Say It • Single • June 2015
The Rush • Album • March 2014
All Good • EP • January 2013
Just Amigos • Single • June 2012
Press Rewind to Begin • EP • June 2011
FEATURES
“Jump” • Broussai • In the Street • February 2015
“The Backyard” • Stevans • Rupture • January 2014
“Bewitched” • Bastian Baker • Too Old to Die Young • September 2013
“She’s Got Me” • Yvan Peacemaker • The Elixir • May 2012
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RADIO
Non-exhaustive list
PLAYLISTS
• 2016
RTS Couleur3 (My Identity, Voodoo)
• 2015
RTS Couleur3 (Just Say It), Stadtfilter (Just Say It)
• 2014
RTS Couleur3 (Freedom of Speech, Keep On), SRF Virus (Freedom of Speech, Cold
Crush), Campus Tours, Campus Rennes, Campus Clermont, Backstage Radio, Kanal K,
3 Fach, Vertical, Industrie, RVVS
• 2013
Le Mouv’ (Miss Q.), RTS Couleur3 (Miss Q.), Radio 666, Kanal K, Fréquence Mistral,
Radio Activ’, Coloriage FM
• 2011
France Inter (She Had Me), RTS Couleur3 (Against the Grain)
AIRPLAYS
Le Mouv’, Radio Nova, RTS Couleur3, RSI Rete 3, SRF Virus, Backstage Radio,
Stadtfilter, Coloriage FM, Canal B, Fréquence Mistral, Radio Activ’, Radio Béton, Radio
Primitive, Radio Ballade, PFM, Radio Résonance, Campus Clermont, Campus Tours,
Campus Rennes, Graf’hit, RaBe…
RADIO SHOW AND INTERVIEW
Radio Nova / La Matinale / June 1st, 2016 / Interview & Live
Round House Radio / World-A-Reggae / August 24th, 2015 / Interview
RTS 1ière / Paradiso / March 5th, 2015 / Interview & showcase
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
Le Mouv’ / Rodéo sur le Mouv’ / April 2013 / Interview & showcase
One FM / February & March 2013 / Interview
RTS 1ière / Paradiso / February 2013 / Interview & Live
Couleur3 / Downtown Boogie / February 2013 / Interview
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PRESS
Non-exhaustive list
La Côte – April 2016 (Switzerland)
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20Minutes – July 2015 (Switzerland)
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Tribune de Genève – July 2015 (Switzerland)
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iHH Magazine – January 2015 (France)
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MTV IGGY – October 2014 (USA)
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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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Le Courrier – April 24th, 2013 (Switzerland)
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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
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WEB
Non-exhaustive list
SwissVibes.org • February 25th, 2016
https://swissvibes.org/2016/02/25/rootwords-inappropriate-behaviour-ep-part-ii/
20Min.ch • January 25th, 2016
http://www.20min.ch/ro/musique/news/story/Rootwords-retrouve-son-premier-amour--le-rap15302621
Rapporteuz.fr • May 28th, 2015
http://www.rapporteuz.fr/hip-hop-a-la-rootwords/
Reggae.fr • May 5th, 2015
http://www.reggae.fr/lire-article/3449_Groundation---Rootwords---St-Etienne.html
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
Reprezent.ch • April 11th and May 22nd, 2014
http://reprezent.ch/?p=28585 | http://reprezent.ch/?p=28896
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
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CONCERTS
Non-exhaustive list
http://www.rootwordsmusic.com/events
2016
01/04 – Usine à Gaz / Nyon / Switzerland
09/04 – Festival Escales / Sciez / France
07/05 – La Grange Festival / Martigny / Switzerland
09/06 – Les Docks / Lausanne / Switzerland
25/06 – La Pointe / Geneva / Switzerland
02/07 – Selvamonos Festival / Oxapampa / Peru
09/09 – TBA / Switzerland
17/09 – TBA / Switzerland
Other dates to be announced soon on the website
2015
Over 40 shows in venues/festivals such as Paleo Festival, Rototom Sunsplash, Expo
Milan 2015, Espace Julien, Festival Jardin du Michel, Le Bikini, Le VIP, Les Docks,
Rote Fabrik, Château Rouge, etc.
Stage shared with international artists such as Tiken Jah Fakoly, Groundation, The
Original Wailers, Dj Shadow and Cut Chemist, Jay Electronica, Dope D.O.D, etc.
2014
About 35 shows in venues/festivals such as CMJ New York, Bars en Trans, Reggae
Sun Ska Festival, Caribana Festival, La Bellevilloise, Jazz Onze+, Moods, Le Forum,
Label Suisse, Yaam, etc.
Stage shared with international artists such as Akua Naru, Naughty Boy, Afu-Ra, etc.
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.
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MUSIC VIDEOS
Non-exhaustive list
YOUR KINGDOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUoJ7ji1oVY
Directed and edited by Joe Cook
2016
VOODOO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpvFYQA7okI
Directed and edited by Raphael Piguet
2016
THE BOX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u431pkgI6xc
Directed by Ryan Lee and edited by Steven Blatter
2015
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
ALL GOOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UgcAw8W24
Directed and edited by GanzHQ
2013
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ON THE INTERNET
Website: http://www.rootwordsmusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rootwordsmusic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/rootwordsmusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rootwords
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rootwords
Dailymotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/rootwords
Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/rootwords
MX3: http://www.mx3.ch/artist/rootwords
MANAGEMENT
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
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