photo credits: Catherine Rojo
The Latin Alternative Music Conference week had its musical launch event at the Bowery Electric in New York. Among the bands in the house that evening, MAKU Soundsystem, Colombian in heritage and New York based we learned about how they formed, what alternative means, their latest project, and the musicians take on immigration and Donald Trump.
It was a few moments before they were to enter the basement stage at the Bowery and Juan Ospina, their bass player, spoke for the band. The forming of a large band and lasting through three albums is always an interesting story. The search of identity is always evolving in the music. Juan brings it together.
“We got together in several ways like workshops in Queens, meeting in High School.”
Juan recalled,
“Also references in college, but more than anything through a network of musicians in New York.”
So here they are, living in a crowded city, like all of us, where respect can be in short supply. The journey of musicians playing non-traditional music can be long but there is demand.
“There is so much diversity in music in our country, culture, different Latinos, they just want to hear different things.”
Espino explained. “That has opened doors for bands like MAKU to be able to play things that are close to us as Latinos.”
Juan cited the pitfalls of a society that is often crushed into each other for lack of space, physically or mentally. The knee jerk reactions are the result often times. In the end what is the solution?
“It’s a matter of us all being able to work together, push the envelope with new music and expressions.”
Juan pointed out,
“Everyone in the music industry has possibilities and responsibilities.”
Maku performed four songs this evening that brought out the pre-show desires of the band for the people to feel the music, have synergy, and respond to what Juan Ospina referred to their performance as “A powerful quicky.” Indeed it was quite diverse as their music called to the ears of immigrants with cards in their pockets. It was as Juan described,
“something familiar, but at the same time new.”
Felipe Quiroz, (synthesizers) interjected at this point,
“Its family to me, a learning experience to share life together with tools we are lucky enough to have, which is music.”
On the topic of the Trump effect, MAKU, a band that is well traveled in Europe and South American, displayed their view.
“There are people who are running to be leaders of nations.”
Ospina shared,
“You better not get on any race of any kind if it’s not from love or understanding.”
MAKU is passionate yet based in love for each other and those who experience their music. They share a solidarity that is the source of their rise.
“We are living proof that those who work together from the bottom can go somewhere.”
drummer Andres Jimenez said.
“We make music for the everyday people.”
Espino added.
MAKU Soundsystem will be coming out with their fourth album, “Nation of Immigrants” which was sparked by a July the 4th social get together of bands that Juan Ospina summarized as a
“Celebration with substance.”
The eight track project of original songs will be a diverse call to immigrants from different nations but under the same umbrella.
“We are ourselves immigrants in the city.”
Juan explained,
“The world is for all of us and we have to deal with each other.”
Facebook
Instagram
RSS