Shaolin Temple Defenders
“Fighting for Soul Music since 2006”: seven musicians from Bordeaux, nearly 1,000 concerts, hot funk and silky soul in the great 60s and 70s tradition — with a modern sound open to rock and hip-hop. The French flag-bearers of the international new soul scene.
Biography
Formed in Bordeaux in 2003, Shaolin Temple Defenders are a seven-piece French soul and funk band led by singer Emmanuel Guérin, alias Brother Lion, and guitarist Pierre Petit, alias The Preacher. A stage band par excellence, they have distilled their soul with passion and fervour for nearly twenty years: scorching funk and silky soul inspired by 1960s and 1970s rhythm and blues, powered by robust horns, implacable grooves and an explosive singer.
Their discography tells the story of a modern vision of a constantly evolving genre: Chapter 1: Enter The Temple (2006), Chapter 2: Gettin' The Spirit (2009), Take It Slow (2010), From The Inside (2013), Free Your Soul (2017) and the live album Live in London (2019) — seven albums in all, defending human values of sharing, love and unity, somewhere between Memphis soul, northern soul and the spirit of New York's Daptone label, right up to a cover of the Motown-era hit Kung Fu Fighting.
The Shaolin have played close to 1,000 concerts across France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, England, Spain, Germany and Canada, toured for several years with Martha High — James Brown's and Maceo Parker's backing singer — and burned up legendary stages such as L'Olympia, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Mercogliano Blues Festival and the New Morning. Booked in France by Jaspir Prod, they have recently joined forces with rapper Tracy de Sá for the side-project Tracy de Sá & The Defenders, and are preparing two consecutive albums and a series of singles.
On video — official clips and live performances
Olivia · Official video clip
Out in the Sun, from the album Free Your Soul (2017) · Official music video
Starting All Over · Official studio session
James Brown vs Hip Hop, live at L'Antirouille, Talence (2018) · Official live video
Official clips and live performances by the band.
Milestones
band formed in Bordeaux in 2003; first album Chapter 1: Enter The Temple in 2006; tours with Martha High, James Brown's backing singer; concerts at L'Olympia, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Mercogliano Blues Festival and the New Morning; Free Your Soul album in 2017 and Live in London in 2019; close to 1,000 concerts in France, Europe and Canada; recent singles Olivia, All We Have Is Now and What You Want Me To Be, ahead of two forthcoming albums.
Show formats
- Live concert
- Festival headline set
- Side-project with Tracy de Sá (see Tracy de Sá & The Defenders page)
Pro Kit & contact
Booking: Jaspir Prod (France) — the band's French booking is handled by Jaspir Prod (prod.jaspir.com, booking contacts: [email protected], [email protected]). Management & production: Soulville Bordeaux (official website).