We Speak Music
Choca Blues Delivers Masterful Debut Album ‘The Wind’
Choca Blues, a band born amidst the picturesque backdrop of San Marcos La Laguna, brings together an eclectic mix of musicians whose varied experiences and nationalities are mirrored in their music. The band members, hailing from Guatemala, the United States, and the Netherlands, have created a sound that is both unique and universally resonant, breaking free from conventional genre boundaries.
‘The Wind’ opens with its vibrant title track, setting the tone for a musical journey that traverses through various styles and moods. From the hauntingly beautiful ballad ‘Old Man’, with its country-inspired undertones, to the powerful closing anthem ‘Kabuki Dance’, Choca Blues delivers a masterful collection of songs that defy easy categorization. The album is a testament to the band’s ability to merge different musical worlds into a cohesive and compelling whole.
At the heart of Choca Blues is lead singer Delta Dina, whose powerful vocals anchor the album’s diverse soundscapes. Her voice, a force of nature in itself, navigates through the album’s eclectic mix of blues, rock, and country with effortless grace. Delta Dina’s vocal prowess is complemented by the skillful guitar work of Carlos Funk, whose mastery of the ‘National Resonator Style O’ guitar adds a distinctive edge to the band’s sound.
Supporting this dynamic duo is a formidable lineup of musicians: Laura Charnaud, known as ‘The Law’ on bass, Whitney Petty on drums and mandolin, and Zach Bluestown on harmonica. Each member brings a unique flavor to the band, contributing to the album’s rich and varied sonic landscape.
Choca Blues’ debut album is not just a collection of songs; it’s a musical voyage that reflects the band’s journey across continents and cultures. ‘The Wind’ invites listeners to experience the magic of a band that is redefining what it means to be a blues band in the modern era.
As they prepare for the release of a second album already on the horizon, Choca Blues continues to invite fans to join them on their musical adventure—a journey where tradition meets innovation and where the boundaries of genre are beautifully blurred.
For more information about Choca Blues and their debut album ‘The Wind’, visit their official website or follow them on social media. Join the conversation and be part of a musical journey that promises to resonate with audiences around the world.
This October, Hip-hop inna yardie style (old school fusion between reggae and hip-hop) collective L’Entourloop are set to rock UK stages, with shows in Liverpool, London & Bristol. Their Bristol date at The Trinity Center and their first London date at Village Underground are already SOLD OUT, leading to a second London date being added to deal with the high demand that L’Entourloop’s unforgettable shows create.
The dates will see L’entourloop hitting higher than ever as they perform tracks from their huge back catalogue, as well as their latest 20 track album “La clarté dans la confusion” (“Clarity in Confusion”).
Produced in their now legendary Bandulu Studio, the new album is a result of a patient production process, carried out with care and passion. Throughout the album, L’Entourloop testifies in its own way via a puzzle of film samples, of this strange period that we have just gone through collectively, using all its savoir faire when it comes to make the people dance.
Since 1964, when the song “My Boy Lollipop” flooded the European radio airwaves, L’Entourloop’s love for reggae and its culture has never stopped growing. With this third album, they wanted to pay tribute to the legendary pioneers of this incredible movement – artists and producers such as Tom Wong, Count Machuki, Prince Buster and Lee “Scratch” Perry. An album which is a true declaration of love for soundsystem culture and its children – reggae, dancehall and hip-hop.
The success of their previous albums “Chickens in Your Town” (2015) and “Le Savoir Faire” (2017), with their famous “Banging Hip-Hop Inna Yardie Style” quickly brought L’Entourloop into the spotlight, along with their hundreds of shows performed all over Europe. The mysterious collective continues to bring together an ever-growing audience around the world, as proved by their hundreds of millions of plays on music platforms.
True lovers of vinyl and old cinema, in their perpetual quest for the ultimate sample, the insatiable diggers kept their fans waiting by first dropping the excellent DJ-Mix “Start From Scratch” in the summer of 2021, followed by a series of 3 official remixes, including the Reunion Island anthem “Li Sem”.
Another striking characteristic of L’Entourloop is the great ability of King James and Sir Johnny to gather incredible guests from around the world. Whether with Skarra Mucci and their now classic “Dreader Than Dread” or their excellent EP “Golden Nuggets” (2019), Capleton for the extravagant remix of “Burn Dem Down”, producer Panda Dub they collaborated with on “Le Bonheur” or French singer Biga Ranx for their hit “Push The Limits”, L’Entourloop has the gift of giving birth to collaborations that mark the spirits.
With no less than 32 guests from all over the world, MCs fling lyrics like guns like in a western movie and the new album is no exception!
On the reggae side, Jamaican legends such as Ken Boothe and Bounty Killer meet new generation stars such as Alborosie, Kabaka Pyramid, Queen Omega and Marcus Gad. On the hip-hop side Chali 2Na from legendary US group Jurassic 5, Swedish MC Promoe from Looptroop Rockers, US rapper Rêverie, the excellent JuJu Rogers, French beatmaker Degiheugi and the irresistible South African female rapper Dope St Jude all make appearances.
The UK vibe can also be felt with features from jungle and dancehall pioneers General Levy and Tippa Irie as well as heavyweights of the grime scene Flowdan, Lady Chann and Killa P. Fellow French artists are also in the spotlight with guests such as Big Red, O.B.F and Manudigital. To complete this amazing cast, L’Entourloop has once again called on the incomparable Troy Berkley from Bermuda and the talented trumpeter N’Zeng, formerly of Le Peuple de l’Herbe, to accompany the collective on the road alongwith a new addition – excellent Dutch rapper BlabberMouf, who has just joined the killer new live show.
L’Entourloop UK Tour 2024
05/10/2024- Liverpool (UK)- Hangar 34
06/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground – SOLD OUT
07/10/2024- London (UK)- Village Underground
08/10/2024- Bristol (UK)- Trinity Center- SOLD OUT
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