Projects

Söhne Mannheims

"Söhne Mannheims" - is the group, one of the organizers and leader of which is Xavier Naidoo. The band consists of 17 members of different nationalities and religions Such different company is united by love to the native city -Mannheim and to the music. Group appeared in the middle of the 1990s in Mannheim, when Xavier Naidoo, Michael Herberger and Klaus Eisenmann have meet each other.The first songs, wich was written for the group were To "Meine Stadt", " 20000 Meilen "( this song became first Xavier's solo - hit) and" Quadrate".because Xavier has started his solo career (producers Pelham and Hoffman wanted to promote only Xavier), the d Debut album of the "Soehne Mannheims" was put off. After Xavier Naidoo attained the right of independent work with own songs and with own projects, debut album of the group called "Zion" was released. It obtained platinum status in Germany. It was the conceptual album, which combined different styles: pop, rock, reggay, classics, soul and hip hop. "Zion" became an event in the musical life of Germany. And although, its concept and its main idea remained incomprehensible for many people (people accustomed to standard texts and musical solutions), music and the texts of the band obtained the acknowledgement of critics and listeners.

It is Possible, that the big obstacle for the understanding this conceptiion became not so refined mixture of musical styles, but the Main idea (which came from Xavier Naidoo) that their native city Mannheim is the new Jerusalem and that the new Holy mountain Zion is mountain Koenigsstuhl near city Heidelberg. Incidentally, such statements have not to be understood literally. It is possible to at least make an attempt to understand what could be on mind of the musician and poet. Maybe, Behind this sufficiently provocative idea, there re the call to follow your own heart could lay (" Geh davon aus"), and the call to the understanding and the agreement ("Peace geht raus"), the desire to extinguish the hate in the hearts of people. Now, I have to say few words about the German city Mannheim itself. This city is potential seat of intensity and conflicts, It is the the city, in which in 90- e onslaughts of the neo-Nazis were accomplished. It is the city, where the representatives of different nationalities, religions and cultures live in the relatively small territory. Soehne Mannheims - appear as the reduced copy, the ethnic cut of the city. And if so different company finds common understanding both in the creation and in life so wonderfully and harmoniously, then why another people could not try to make it so.

The tendency to create something uncommon and refined in the flow of the monotonous commercial production, which whipped European market, even supplied with enthusiasm and sufficiently provocative form of account, found response in the hearts of many people.The tour in the support of the album, which they, according to Michael Herberger, conducted for the own fun and pleasure was very successfull. According toXavier Naidoo, who thanks to the stressed schedule of the ZION - tour could easily overcome the desire to return to the smoking of marijuana, the band will continue motion in the assigned direction.The new album will appear in the Autumn of 2003 as well as new single. The works of the band (as well as , however, the solo works of Xavier Naidoo) is called bright spot in the cultural life of Germany and exception in the Show bussyness by many German and Austrian journalists Indeed, unfortunately, last time the majority of musicians forgot about creativity and searcing thinking only about how to earn A lots of money and to become very famous.

Elena Kaydalova

"Söhne Mannheims"
Xavier Naidoo - lead vocals, author of texts and co-author of the music
Michael Herberger - keyboards, co-author of the music, co-producer
Edo Zanki - vocals
Florian Sitzmann - keyboards
Michael Koschorreck
Andreas Bayles
Robee Mariano - bass
Ralf Gustke - drums
Claus Eisenmann - vocals
Rolf Stahllofen - vocals
Tino Oak -
J-Luv -
DJ Billy Davis
Bernd Herrman
Jah Meek,
Patrick Caputulo,
Marlon B,
Uwe Barton Schlaefer.