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Biography EN
An inexhaustible genre fusionist, in the vein of Franco-Spanish troubadour Manu Chao, David Byrne or Mexico's Café Tacuba, Johansen seamlessly blends styles (blues and country, reggae, salsa, tango and candombe, chanson and so on) as easily as he switches between languages. The outcome of this is what he calls cumbia flamenco, Celtic sambarera, popklore and zydeco rush. Kevin's lyrics, which he presents in a wonderfully husky, low voice, are full of references and double entendres, as is the music itself - which mixes guitars and glockenspiel, saxophone and strings as well as drums and flute.
Johansen is at the forefront of the self-proclaimed »Subtropicalista« movement. Like the original »Tropicalistas« - Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, among others - who radicalized Brazilian music in the 1960s and '70s, the Subtropicalistas, including Brazilian musician Paulinho Moska and Uruguay's Jorge Drexler, aim to sway audiences away from »La Vida Loca«-style tunes and introduce more sophisticated Latino music to a broader audience.
Oops! with Liniers
An audiovisual show filled with music brings us Kevin Johansen and renowned illustrator Liniers. Art, music and intelligent humor join on stage with the promise of an unforgettable evening. Inspired on the work both artists did for the book OOPS!. Johansen offers a tour around his discography accompanied by his acoustic guitar while Liniers improvises and recreates the chords in real time on a screen set as backing of the stage. A small world of music and illustrations will enclose the audience with the adventures shared by the two great artists and friends. Liniers takes the stage to share strokes, images and sequences along with the rhythm and the voice of Johansen. A book live, or an illustrated concert: a unique opportunity to appreciate and enjoy this consummated duo and their work of art.