Outerworldly conductor of the cosmos, Paintings of Flowers (Drew Felix) shoots sonic laser beams and pounces with the precision and ferocity of a hungry panther; inhabiting a complex ecosystem of guitar effects, drum machines, and looping pedals. One of So-cals finest, this one soul sound factory stopped by KUCR to grace us with an in-station performance. Check out the links below for an interview with Drew, as well as his bandcamp and instagram for his music and upcoming shows.

~recorded and edited by Conrad Talamantes

Founded and lead by Otura Mun, ÌFÉ is one of the most underrated acts of our time, with their unique and distinctive sound fusing Cuban rumba, Jamaican dancehall, and Yoruban spiritual music. ÌFÉ’s show at the Echoplex truly embodied the ethereal and the powerful, with their performance of BANGAH being a stellar example, a song advocating for Puerto Rican independence from colonialism and imperialism. Pia Love’s dancing embodied the emotions of each song, and tied ÌFÉ’s performance together with beautiful visuals and choreography. -Emerald Anastasia

The Echoplex was home to the first ÌFÉ performance in Southern California and my first live experience of their music. I had followed the band for several years, watching every YouTube video I could find and in my opinion their Los Angeles debut proved to be their best performance. Ensemble director and Babalawo (Ifa priest) Otura Mun constructed a sophisticated correspondence of electric drum pads and triggered acoustic drums that allowed the band to freely interpret different feelings influenced by the “nuts and bolts” of Cuban Rumba with the textures found in Jamaican Dancehall. The syncopated rhythms were layered with intertwining vocal melodies that put me in a trance. This was all accented and reinterpreted by their dancer, Pia Love, who hand crafted a selection of stunning costumes that were reminiscent of Dogon and Afro Diasporic threads with a choreographed dance to accompany each song/rhythm. The show flowed through feelings of joy, dismay, pleasure, triumph and I found myself riding along until it all culminated with an encore where the band unplugged and played a rumba on actual conga drums. It was as close to a perfect show as I’ve ever experienced. – Eduardo Valencia

In March, London-based jazz saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings traveled south to downtown Knoxville, TN for Big Ears 2019, a “singular festival experience that explores connections between musicians and artists, effortlessly crossing the boundaries of musical genres as well as artistic disciplines”. In between sets (Shabaka performed with both of his bands: The Comet is Coming + Sons of Kemet), he shared a bit about his background, his early session work on Jonny Greenwood’s film score for “The Master”, and his latest projects on Impulse! records. Shabaka Hutchings is on tour this summer with, both, The Comet is Coming and Sons of Kemet. Credits: Producer/Director: Justin Reich; Editor: Jonah Chaffin; Special Thanks: Shabaka Hutchings, Big Ears Festival, Verve/Impulse!

Producer/Director: Justin Reich; Editor: Jonah Chaffin; Special Thanks: Shabaka Hutchings, Big Ears Festival, Verve/Impulse!

Combo Chimbita has a new record titled, Ahomale, it’s out now on Anti- and its magic. The album sits somewhere between Colombia’s Magical Realist Mystique and At the Drive-In. They call it Tropical Futurism. The record begins with the haunting vocal flow of lead vocalist Carolina Oliveros, and it is delicately interwoven with atmospheric synth lines by bassist, Prince of Queens. It then melts into the title track Ahomale and the journey begins. The rest of the record exudes lush tropical landscapes brought to life by guitarist Niño Lento’s melodic call-and-response phrasing all of it driven by the polyrhythmic drumming of Dilemastronauta. Ahomale is a Yoruba word that means a person or being that can communicate with ancestors. This record is an homage to Afro Colombian Folklore married with elements of Dub, Reggaeton, Punk and Electro. With that being said the album itself is Ahomale, and the band is the medium through which it communicates with us. These musicians also happen to be Caribbean Colombian folkloric specialists, some of which perform with NYC-based Bullerengue ensemble, Bulla en el Barrio. With a background rooted in some of the heaviest song and drum music of the Americas, Combo Chimbita is reinterpreting elements from the Afro Latinx diaspora and elevating it into the future. You can catch them in Los Angeles at the Echoplex on Wednesday May 15th and in Santa Ana at the Constellation Room on Thursday May 16th. Listen to the single, Brilla Más Que El Oro (La Bala Apuntandome).

-Eduardo Valencia