Patrice

A German artist who is known for his socially conscious blend of reggae, soul, folk, and hip-hop, Patrice became a breakout star around the turn of the millennium and carried his momentum through the next decade with hit albums like 2005's Nile and 2008's Free-Patri-Ation. His multicultural roots and innovative sound have set him apart from other German acts, and over time he developed a strong D.I.Y. aesthetic that saw him handling nearly every aspect of his career, from producing and mixing to directing videos and designing his own artwork. His dynamic live shows have made him a consistent touring draw, and he enjoyed continued chart success with albums like 2013's The Rising of the Son and 2016's Life's Blood. In the next decade, Patrice continued to experiment with 2023's eclectic 9, and a poignant cover of Bob Marley's "One Love." Born on July 9, 1979, to a Sierra Leonean father and a German mother in a town outside Cologne, Patrice Bart-Williams grew up listening to Burning Spear, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan, first writing his own songs when he was 12. He spent his teen years playing with various bands, including the Afro-beat/reggae group Bantu, through which he met Matthias Arfmann, who went on to produce his debut EP, 1998's Lions. The EP quickly became a grassroots success, and Patrice notched several high-profile tours opening for Black Eyed Peas and Lauryn Hill. His ambitious mixture of reggae, soul, and acoustic singer/songwriter fare attracted attention from the major labels, leading Sony to release his debut album, Ancient Spirit, in 2000. After a solo follow-up, 2002's How Do You Call It?, and a collaboration with reggae collective Silly Walks Movement, Patrice finally achieved mainstream success with 2005's Nile. A Top Ten success in Germany and Austria, it also charted throughout Europe, thanks in part to its breakout hit single, "Soulstorm." While touring the album, Patrice captured a sold-out show in the French capital that was released in 2006 as a live DVD and album, Raw & Uncut - Live in Paris. His next album, 2008's Free-Patri-Ation, was similarly successful, making the Top 20 and yielding more hit singles in "Clouds" and "Another One."To promote his next album, the singer launched an unusual guerrilla-style concert series of "sunrise gigs," which were announced with little notice and performed acoustic, first thing in the morning. Despite label skepticism, they were well-attended and further endeared Patrice to his hardcore fan base. Both 2010's One and 2013's The Rising of the Son maintained his chart success and were supported with major tours, further cementing his reputation as a major artist. In addition to handling all his own production, Patrice branched out and worked with other artists like Selah Sue and Cody ChesnuTT and flexed his creativity as a composer, scoring the documentary films Women Are Heroes and Inside Out for street artist JR.After 2016's Life's Blood, Patrice continued to tour, but he was relatively silent in the studio. When he returned in 2022 it was with Super Album, a unique release that featured re-recorded arrangements of existing songs from his catalog along with a soulful cover of the Beach Boys' classic "Good Vibrations." It was followed a year later by the more eclectic 9, his ninth studio album and first new music in seven years. He also continued to team up with other acts, guesting on tracks by Lary (2024's "Sinn") and early collaborators Bantu (2024's "Are You Willing").
© Timothy Monger & Marisa Brown /TiVo