Patrice

Born to a Sierra Leonean father and German mother near Cologne in 1979, Patrice Bart-Williams grew up on the sounds of Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan, writing songs from age 12. As a teen, he played in bands like Afrobeat/reggae group Bantu and released his debut EP Lions in 1998. Though a soft release, it went viral in France. Still in school, he toured with Black Eyed Peas and later supported Lauryn Hill on her Miseducation tour. His debut album Ancient Spirit (2000) became a genre-defining success across Europe and laid the foundation for Patrice as one of Germany’s most influential Black international artists. His third album Nile (2005) reached #4 in Germany and top 10 elsewhere, featuring the hit Soulstorm. In 2025, both albums celebrate major milestones: Ancient Spirit turns 25, Nile turns 20. Patrice made waves with his “sunrise gigs” — spontaneous early-morning acoustic concerts that drew thousands. He writes, produces, mixes, and directs much of his work, and has collaborated with artists like Selah Sue and Cody ChesnuTT. In 2021, he released "Patrice presents Rocksteady Christmas", a heartfelt tribute to Jamaican music of the ’60s. In 2023, he ranked among France’s top 5 most touring artists. His latest album 9 dropped in 2024, and a new studio album is due in fall 2025.