From Congo to Canada: Pierre Kwenders' Paradox of Love Wins Polaris Prize and Hearts Worldwide

MUSIC BY | Wavywarrior

Pierre Kwenders is a Congolese-Canadian artist whose music has been taking the world by storm. His most recent album, José Louis and The Paradox of Love, has received international critical acclaim and won the prestigious Polaris prize. The LP features collaborations with artists such as Win Butler and Régine Chassagne from Arcade Fire, Branko, King Britt, and more.

The album rose to #1 on Canada’s !earshot chart for four weeks and #2 on the NACC World category chart. Additionally, Pierre Kwenders has won two FÉLIX at gala de l’ADISQ and the Prix Espoir at Festival d’Été de Québec. He’s been named révélation Radio-Canada and was short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize, and he’s also a Juno nominee.

During the making of his most recent album, Pierre Kwenders was feeling a range of emotions, with the common denominator being love in all its forms. He rarely plans his creative process in advance and instead allows himself to be inspired by different collaborators, which led to the unique sound of José Louis and The Paradox of Love.

One of the standout moments of the album for Pierre Kwenders is the song “Your Dream.” He credits key contributions from his collaborators for shaping the final product, and he describes his music today as African Pop, where anything is to be expected.

When it comes to his creative process, Pierre Kwenders prefers to go with the flow, allowing himself to be inspired by the moment rather than forcing anything. He wants his listeners to take away the message that life is beautiful and that love should guide them.

As for upcoming shows and releases, Pierre Kwenders is always working on new music, so fans should keep their ears open for exciting announcements in the future. With his unique sound and inspiring message, Pierre Kwenders is undoubtedly a rising star in the music industry.