The masters of Miami’s funk-pan Latin hybrid sound,Locos por Juana, release their anticipated sixth studio album Caribe today oniTunes. The album arrives in the midst of a hurricane proving the well-recognized resilience of the people of The Caribbean.
An ambitious record, Caribe is the fruit of uncompromising commitment to creative discipline and to their extended creative community resulting in a dozen collaborations of stellar artists and musicians.
In Caribe the band explores Caribbean sounds from soca to champeta with rich world flavors and a strong reggae influence. The band transports listeners to familiar moods and rhythms though this work of art pulses with a sense of reinvention and new perspectives on their powerful roots.
“Caribe is a masterpiece, recorded with a lot of love and happiness from beginning to end,” says Itawe, lead vocalist.
St. Croix based roots-reggae band Aka Beka’s Vaughn Benjamin (ex-Midnite), Latin GRAMMY nominee El B (Los Aldeanos) American hip hop artist, Talib Kweli, Bermudan reggae star, Collie Buddz, Afro-Colombian powerhouseChocQuibTown, Colombian GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner Jorge Villamizar (ex-Bacilos), Boston’s indie-roots musician, Chad Stokes(DISPATCH), synth-heavy pop duo, XAXO (Julca Brothers), Spanish hip-hop-flamenco lead vocalist, Marinah (ex-Ojos de Brujo), GRAMMY nominee Afro-roots music star, Rocky Dawuni, Miami’s Latin alternative band, Elastic Bond, and R&B, reggae-dancehall artist, Notch, bring their best work toCaribe, a 15-track album that was born with the release of their single debut, “Mueve, Mueve” in October 2015. A fun-shaped record, the song got even greater color with its lively music video shot in The Bahamas.
“The entire process of recording Caribe was special, I am so excited to share it with the world,” adds Mark Kondrat, MD and lead guitarist.
“The Cure,” their sophomore single was released on iTunes Hot Tracks and features Bermudan reggae star, Collie Buddz. The song, recorded between Miami and Buddz’ native Bermuda, consecrated the bilingual ensemble as an established band on the world-music scene. “Yes, we’ll find the cure for the world tonight; we are making music to feel all right,” sings the band’s front man, Itawe, in a record created to evoke peace and love through music.
The third single, “Se Fue La Luz” featuring Afro-Colombian kingsChocQuibTown, was released to massive media acclaim and combines the strengths and cultural influences from both groups. Its lyric video and official music video premiered on Billboard.com, NBC-Telemundo’s highest-rated show, Al Rojo Vivo, and VEVO.
The band’s signature sound -a frenzy of Caribbean, Latin and world rhythms- takes a step into an exploratory and colorful vibration in Caribe to which these array of top-tier acts are strong contributors. The album combines a diversification of new flavors (hip hop-flamenco, jazzy, urban funk, and more) and the band’s own hometown swagger as in their soon-to-be-released fourth single, “For The Ladies” featuring Talib Kweli and the band’s first English track, “Summertime” featuring Chad Stokes of Boston-based indie-rock band DISPATCH.
An institution in their hometown of Miami, GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominees Locos por Juana, have performed together and headlined shows for more than a decade. Friday, October 14th, will see them perform at the Miami FC Soccer match as part of a concert series that kicked off with Maluma.
The band will represent the music scene at their Caribe album release party onOctober 20 at Gramps (176 NW 24th St., Miami). A free event, this is a show you don’t want to miss.
Caribe- Tracklisting
1. Caribe ft Vaughn Benjamin (Midnite) and El B
2. Se Fue La Luz ft. ChocQuibTown
3. For the Ladies ft. Talib Kweli
4. The Cure ft. Collie Buddz
5. Para Siempre ft. Jorge Villamizar
6. Summertime ft. Chad Stokes (Dispatch)
7. Mueve Mueve
8. Dance with me ft. XAXO
9. La Murga ft. Marinah
10. Se Te Ki Te To’
11. La Policía ft. Rocky Dawuni and Elastic Bond
12. Una Foto
13. Esta Vida ft. Notch
14. Tik Tok
15. La Luna