Alain Nkossi Konda
Alain Nkossi Konda is a very gifted singer/songwriter originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. At a tender age he went to the US. Says Nkossi: "My father was often a member of the Salvation Army church choir in his youth where they sung songs in harmony ... both my parent's enjoyed singing and have good voices... I have been singing for as long as I can remember".
During the more than 29 years he spent in the urban jungle of New York, Nkossi earned himself a reputation as a hard working musician/producer within the NYC Afro Pop community. He is a respected innovator who effortlessly combines his African musical heritage with his new American homeland creating what he calls "Tri-cultural pop" which is a combination of Funk, Soukous and Reggae with Pop hooks sung in French, English and Lingala.
His first album, "Adiyoyo Mona Lisa" was released in 1998.
In 1999, Nkossi became the first artist to be signed by Harry Belafonte for his new label Niger Records/Palm Pictures in collaboration with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
During the spring of 2001, Nkossi and his associate Jim Savitt set up their own production company Afrikool. Their objective was to provide the necessary tools that could facilitate the cultural exchange between African artists and their American counterparts. Under that banner, he wrote 18 songs and co-produced with Promoter Rick Garson (Michael Jackson "Thriller" Tour, George Michael "Faith" Tour, Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" Tour...) "World Voice 2002", a spoken word album featuring artists such as Britney Spears, N'Sync, Aerosmith and more... Reading prayers from Pope John Paul II's private journals.
In 2005: He was selected as the winner of the "World" category of the West Coast Songwriters Contest with the title "Unnacceptable" (featured on his new album Nostaslgia 3C1S1V) & also received an Honorable mention prize for another title "Pulling the rug".
Nkossi also placed among the top 500 Songwriter' s entered in the 13th Annual BILLBOARD World song contest and won 2 Honorable mention awards with his tracks "Only for a moment" and "Foot of the hill" which are both featured on his new album Nostalgia 3C1S1V.
In 2006: Nkossi won the 1st prize and an Honorable Mention Prize for session 1 of the 2006 International John Lennon Sonwriting Contest... At the closing of the year hewas selected as the Best Solo Male Artist & Best Songwriter for Germany at the 2006 MusicAid International Awards... The most recent result is the 1st prize at the International UNISONG Songwriting Contest.
Nkossi is well aware of the power of music and his desire to communicate through it transcends borders. He belongs to this goup of artists who understood that music is the most wonderful way to convey ideas, feelings and passions. Music overwhelms him, devours him to the point where he manages to dominate it, shape it and extrapolate it in such a way that we can perceive it as a universal language.
This is a language that he likes to share and which he transcends during his live performances. He is one of these artists we call ?amazing performer?. During his stage acts we immerse into his musical world and can?t help to let ourselves be carried away by the crazy swirl of his innovative style. The least that can be said is it lifts and stirs you up while keeping a great musical quality all through.
During his last visit to NewYork for a "Mini-Tour", Alain received an appointement from Secretary General Dr. Alessandro Manini as Special Envoy for Germany in support of the CISRI-ISP Program Against Malnutrition & the United Nations System.
Production & composition of a featured sports anthem track titled: "Overtime" for the ADIDAS Official Website (www.adidas.com ) which was featured during the WorldCup Soccer Tournament.
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