Joyful Afronauts of the Caribbean
Systema Solar Raps, Scratches, and Funkifies Colombia’s Technicolor Coast. A new craft is winging its way through the sonic solar system, built from creaky amps and sleek laptops, powered by dayglo Caribbean sun and the brilliant pulse of street parties, and steered by hip-hop Afronauts from one of the globe’s new music hotspots. Welcome aboard Colombia’s Systema Solar, the funkiest Technicolor hip-hop and DJ VJcrew/Latin sound system ever to be pulled by donkey or graced with slammin’ beats. Uniting Afro-Colombian roots with rap, scratching with Afro-Latin percussion, and unstoppable dance grooves with a live video mix, Systema Solar has landed on the world stage. Their florescent exuberance is inspired by a favorite local institution, the pikos, or mobile sound systems akin to Jamaica’s pick-ups, movable parties that can be set up anywhere. The group creates Colombian music that brings together the best of the country’s hip hop and techno scenes with the best of its roots. Made up of some of Colombia’s hottest rappers, techno DJs, percussionists, and video artists, the collective transforms the essence of the pikos into bangin’, infectious, vivid tracks that use everything from sampled 1940s vinyl to scratching to blazing drums. Powering all this creativity is another aspect of the Colombian Caribbean, verbena, the good-time celebratory spirit guiding parties from tiny hamlets to big cities. This positive focus on lifting spirits and getting down stands out in stark contrast to other hip-hop movements in Colombia.
retroVISOR(Colombia)
On
stage: 4 + 1 crew
Touring period: autumn 2012 / spring 2013
Based: Colombia
Booking territory: Europe
"retroViSOR is a colombian musical and artistic project that provides not only food for the ears; they make music visible, by synchronizing their blend of rock, electronica, cumbia and Latin styles with indigenous songs, old ballroom hits and thumping beats with live-controlled video”. Haus del Kulturen der Welt - Berlin
retroViSOR has played several venues, across Latin América, Europe and Asia, among others are: Expo Shanghai 2010, Wasser Musik Festival - HKW-Berlin, Sfinks Festival - Belgium, Amsterdam’s Sugar Factory, Ollin Kan - Mexico and Portugal, Rock al Parque - Bogota (biggest south american open air), La Fete de la Musique - Colombia, Estudio Abierto - Bs Aires, Arts Festival of North Norway. retroVISOR has performed with artists such as Nortec Collective and Bajo Fondo Tango Club.
CHOC QUIB TOWN (Colombia)
On
stage: 7 + 3 crew
Touring period: t.b.d.
Based: Colombia
Booking territory: Switzerland
CQT is Colombia's most representative hip-hop group. Their inovative sound fuses funk, North American hip-hop, Jamaican ragga and elements of electronic music in order to produce elaborate beats. They also incorporate traditional rhythms from Colombia's Pacific coast such as bunde, currulao, bambazú and aguabajo, as well as other Latin American and Caribbean rhythms such as salsa, songo and guajira.
PAPA CHANGO (Ecuador)
On
stage: 11 + 2 crew
Touring period: autumn 2012 / summer 2013
Based: Ecuador
Booking territory: Europe
Papa Chango music style blends reggae with salsa, merengue, cumbia and dance hall rhythms. The resul of this harmonious union emerges thanks to the work 11 musicians who make this very popular band from Quito. Its unique and charismatic style makes them one of the best bands in Ecuador. Their first album "caminante" was produced in Argentina and Miami and it included the participation of well-known and internationally recognized musicians such as Mario Siperman (fabulosos cadilacs), Akila barrer (the wailers), Pablo Molina (todos tus muertos). "Negrita" was their first single and it quickly hit the top ten charts of the most important radio stations in Ecuador, holding the number one spot in the popularity charts nationwide for several weeks.
The musical relevance generated by Papa Changó has transcended the ecuarorian frontiers. Many of their songs have been chosen to be a part of important international compilations.
LA CHIVA GANTIVA (Colombia, Belgium)
On
stage: 7 + 2 crew
Touring period: Jan-May, summer 2012
Based: Belgium
Booking territory: coop. Europe
Here is a group that shares its folklore and its contagious enthusiasm!
Born in Brussels in 2005 and mainly composed by Colombian artists, its music is inspired by afro-Colombian rhythms and enriched by all kinds of modern sounds, like rock and funk. The band mixes cumbia, salsa, and other Colombian rythms such as champeta, chirimia and sanjuanero, to name a few. Originality and innovation are perhaps the best attributes associated with the band, which is constantly surprising audiences with their live performances and their inexhaustible energy. Strong wind section, good funky feeling, and Rock ‘n Roll attitude is the secret for this energy. Its CD “Pelao” released last September 2011 - Crammed Discs, includes 11 titles, sung in Spanish, French, and sometimes in a strange mixture of the two languages. In addition to other subjects, the lyrics seek to deconstruct the clichés that circulate about Latin-American cultures.
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