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Release Info «The Cosmopolitan»
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V.Ö.: Friday, March 9th 2012

Next summer is definitely on the way and the Reggae bird of paradise FAMARA never believed in winter! After a creative hiatus of three years – his last studio album, «Oreba», appeared in 2008 – and just as spring is starting, the Reggae master has returned to the top of the national reggae scene with his eighth studio album, «The Cosmopolitan».

For more than 15...

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Release Info «The Cosmopolitan»
-------------------------------------
V.Ö.: Friday, March 9th 2012

Next summer is definitely on the way and the Reggae bird of paradise FAMARA never believed in winter! After a creative hiatus of three years – his last studio album, «Oreba», appeared in 2008 – and just as spring is starting, the Reggae master has returned to the top of the national reggae scene with his eighth studio album, «The Cosmopolitan».

For more than 15 years the Basel-based musician and Reggae singer has moved successfully in the borderlands between Reggae, Dub and world music. He enjoys an excellent international reputation and his fans can look forward again to a world beat Reggae firework extravaganza – high quality riddims, colorful, cosmopolitan, unfiltered – just as the title and CD cover promise. The single, “Mondomix” (Nr. 2), is proof aplenty – and leaves us wanting more: authentic, earthy, striking, loose and enormously accessible. A refreshing world music classic with hit potential! Matthias Urech (at GrooveFactory Studios, Ostermundigen / u.a. FSG) recorded, brought in, arranged and mixed the album, which was mastered by Oli Bösch (Livingroom Studios, Bern).

But what would FAMARA be without his live shows? His is Swiss Club-Tour is already underway, and he will be present at the CD album release party on 10. März 2012 at SUD (Basel).

Shortfacts:
1998-2012 - 15 years of Swiss Reggae History! With eight albums, more than 500 shows in Switzerland and in Europe (D/A/F/I/SK), including nearly every major festival here and abroad (Gampel, St. Gallen, Frauenfeld, Heitere, Summerjam, Chiemsee, Rototom Sunsplash, etc.) and sales of more than 20,000 CDs alond with appearances with SEEED, GENTLEMEN, ZIGGY MARLEY, YOUSSOU N´DOUR, ALPHA BLONDY and TIKEN JAH FAKOLY, FAMARA is undoubtedly one of the most active and successful Swiss Reggae acts!

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Biografie
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FAMARA, civil name Thomas Nikkles, grew up as a son of a fabricant family in Leimtal (Switzerland). After the participation at a percussion workshop in 1984, his interest in african music could not be stopped again.

Only after a few solo appearances, different Afro- and Latinbands invited him to perform with them. At one of those performances with the Basler Rapgirl «Luana» he switched from percussion perfomer to a raggamuffin singer. The first single «Sunshine Blubber» (1987) could get some resonance in switzerland but only with the move to Gambia (1988) he got the appreciaton he deserved. The «Gambia Weekend Observer» wrote after a concert which was organized for the independance day of Gambia, where he played for 15'000 People; «Swiss reggae star in town».

On his second visit to Gambia he toured various venues and also recorded the album «Natural Fact» which was released in 1999. In 2000 he toured through Mali, Senegal and Gambia.

After many concerts and TV interviews in Switzerland and the rest of the world including an appearance with «YOUSSOU N´DOUR» and «TIKEN JAH FAKOLY», the emergence of the CD albums «Sunlife» 2001, «Toubab Man» 2003, «Famasound» 2004, «Double Culture» 2005, «Oreba» 2008 and «The Sound Of Famara» 2010, he is ready with the new album «The Cosmopolitan». With over 500 shows in Switzerland so far, including almost every big festival at home and abroad (Gampel, St. Gallen, Frauenfeld, Heitere, Summerjam, Cheimsee, Rototom Sunsplash etc.), as well as concerts with «SEEED», «GENTLEMAN» and «ZIGGY MARLEY», FAMARA is one of the most active and successful Swiss-Reggae acts!