The Swiss label Kinyama Sounds has been collaborating since 2008 with singers such as Jamaica’s Prince Alla and Chezidek (a star of conscious roots reggae), and the UK’s dub MC Brother Culture. Kinyama’s style incorporates stripped down roots, jazz, pop, soul, and hip hop inspirations on which singers can deliver their songs. At the helm of Kinyama Sounds we find Stan and Niko, a Swiss-French team who are starting to make a name for themselves within today’s competitive music scene.

What is Kinyama Sounds ?
Kinyama Sounds is a Swiss music production label created in June 2008, whose goal is to develop its music on an international level. Kinyama composes and records “riddims” (instrumental tracks) which are then passed on to artists who write original lyrics for the tracks during recording sessions. The songs are then sold on the internet or as a physical release on compilations. Kinyama Sounds can also compose and produce riddims on demand, intervene as consultants during the compositional stages of a song or take care of the production of an album.

Who is Kinyama Sounds ?
Kinyama Sounds is Nicolas Duboux and Stan Breynaert.
Niko is Swiss-Dutch, of Indonesian ethnic origin. He embodies the raw sound of Kinyama. He began his training as a sound engineer in Nashville (Tennessee) and now works at the International School of Geneva, where he takes care of the school’s studio. He also works as a freelance sound engineer for both recording sessions and live events.
As for Stan, he is the Ganesh of Kinyama Sounds. An elephant lover, one could believe he has many arms, just like the Hindu god. Not only is he a multi-instrumentalist, but he also takes care of the label’s communications, promotions and development, all the while keeping his Zen attitude.
Kinyama’s universe is populated by a solid team of collaborators and partners : Asher Selector, king of the European sound systems, one-time host of radio station Couleur3’s reggae show and founder of the web radio “Raspect Radio” ; Ewan, sound engineer who lends a helpful ear to studio sessions ; Phillipe and Michael, webmaster and graphic artist respectively who develop Kinyama’s visual identity ; Eric, an Entertainment lawyer.

Kinyama’s productions
Kinyama is first and foremost a reggae label but does not limit itself purely to roots music. The Kinyama sound is heavily influenced by the musical background of its founders, with flavors taken from pop, soul, hip hop, rock and jazz. These multiple influences result in a unique sound which immediately convinced international artists like the Jamaican roots-reggae singer Prince Alla, Jamaica’s star of conscious roots-reggae Chezidek and the UK’s dub MC Brother Culture. Amongst other names on the label’s long list of collaborators, we find the talented Swiss hip hop artists of Zambian origin, Rootwords ; RaldoAsher, a Swiss reggae singer managed by Asher Selector;  the Jamaicans Errol Organs and Rod Taylor. These international artists are always excited to come and work in Switzerland where they find tranquility, an original sound and excellent working conditions.

Join Kinyama
Kinyama Sounds is always interested in working with new talent. Kinyama doesn’t sign artists to the label, which allows very interesting mixtures, with no limits or barriers. To become a part of the crew, simply contact Kinyama Sounds : info (at) kinyamasounds (dot) com

Kinyama, the genesis
Kinyama was born from the meeting of two music enthusiasts, two bassists. Towards the end of the 1990s, Niko was on the road in the USA with a country-rock band, while Stan was playing the bass-hero in the Geneva area and in his teenage bedroom adorned with Red Hot Chili Peppers posters. They were both listening to a bit of reggae, but neither had dreadlocks nor red, gold and green outfits. Bitten by the roots-reggae virus, the two met in 2003 at a reggae concert. Shortly after, the duo found themselves in an African reggae band based in Switzerland, before putting together their own project. Stan took his place behind a drum kit as well as writing songs, while Niko cut his teeth in the studio. The first few riddims were a mixture of dub, reggae and soul. The origin of Kinyama Sounds began with the encounter of a young pop and soul singer who recorded a song with the duo ; this became the first Kinyama production. Following this, Asher Selector, a friend of Niko’s and a promoter of reggae concerts in Geneva, set up a few musical encounters with various Jamaican artists. The result was a few songs that Stan and Niko recorded with Prince Alla during the summer of 2005. This saw “Kinyama Sounds” becoming a reality, and the commercialization of the company in June 2008.

Kinyama Sounds, the projects
The goal of Kinyama Sounds is to develop its signature sound on an international platform and promote the artists who are working with the label. Kinyama also wants to expand its activities : Kinyama Records, which will become a record label in the traditional sense of the term (signing musicians, promotion etc.) ; Kinyama Clothings, which is in the process of developing the Kinyama brand with a collection of t-shirts, polos and sweaters ; and finally, Kinyama Publishing, which will become a foundation from which to manage Kinyama tracks (publishing rights, licensing etc.).
A live show is also being considered to promote the “Reggae dishes” compilation and productions yet to come, all under the format of a showcase in a handful of European cities in order to stay visible to the audience and the reggae scene.

The definition of “Kinyama” : a Swahili adverb which means ”like an animal”

Text by Laurent S.
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