Biography

The band first met in 1997 in San Diego, Southern California. During one of those unforgettable parties Didier Rieder (vocals, guitar) and Eric Ferrari (bass) had a little chat about music. They soon found out that they were coming from the same city, Geneva, Switzerland - 10'000 miles away, they liked the same music and both felt like writing their own songs. A few months later, back home, Didier called his friend Olivier Francey (drums), former band mate in a previous project, and offered him to hold the sticks and eventually hit the road with what will soon be called MotherKingdom, after an old Geneva tale. In 2000, two days before taking off for the UK, Laurent Clavel (guitar) completed the lineup. Laurent's addition was an undeniable plus to the band. He had studied at the world famous Musicians Institute (GIT) in Los Angeles and had worked as a session player for Capitol Studio in Hollywood.

The music

The music of MotherKingdom affects, disturbs and questions. Promoted master in the art of alternating relatively aggressive moments with some more serene atmospheres, exploring different facets, sometimes powerful, sometimes melancholic, between easy melodies and dissonant tunes, MotherKingdom invites you to an initiatory trip in quest of yourself and your emotions. It's not worth trying to resist Didier's rough and plaintive voice, you just can't! His wild singing, either aggressive or gripping, will be sure to remind you that great singers are the ones who let their eyes and heart speak. Olivier's pounding, like an oak standing behind his barrels, moves inexorably in cataleptic hammering, while Eric's bass, not without composing a hypnotic metronome, distils a soft poison. Laurent lets his guitar ring and sail over the musical wave.

Melodic enough to satisfy people keen on real pop, but disturbing enough to appease alternative music fans' appetite; MK won the bet to create a musical mosaic that is rich and heterogeneous. It is a constellation of atmospheres and contrasts in which love is never really far from rage and darkness from a bright interval.

The scene

After more than 150 gigs over Europe, highlighted by the opening for Deep Purple at Geneva Arena in front of more than 8'000 people in May 2007, or the participation to Montreux Jazz Festival and Paleo Festival in Nyon, MK is at the top of their game on stage. The emotion during the concert is multiplied by their strong experience. A well-oiled machine. A gig with MotherKingdom, it's a kickass, killer punch in your face, MK offers an anthology of emotions condensed in a rock concert format.

From Sleeping Subway to ...

After spending 2 years on the road promoting Sleeping Subway, mastered by Howie Weinberg (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica...) at Masterdisc Studio NYC, continuously solicited, MK diversifies its activities and takes the challenge to write music for the Los Angeles X Games, the short movie "L'éveil du chaperon rouge" by Josue Mendoza, "Draw me a line" with the double champion of Verbier Xtreme, Géraldine Fasnacht and the collaboration with Nicolas and Loris Falquet on "Huck and Chuck" and their latest production "Une Nuit d'Hiver". End of 2007, it was the time to record the next album with Johann Meyer (Kandyss, Yverdoom) at Studio Declanche in Yverdon.

Today

After having worked for several months, locked in studio, MK sees the light for the long awaited forthcoming release of their brand new album due in March 2008. The music video for the single "Almost There", produced by Nicolas Falquet, was filmed in Switzerland and is scheduled to be aired in early 2008.