I first met Orishas exactly 6 years ago. It was on the same time flight I am about to board soon – to Bogota, Colombia. I remember it ever so clearly. The feeling of anxiety, and the moment Orishas’ music made that anxiety disappear and put a huge smile on my face.
No one else is going to Colombia
I was on my own you see. On a plane to Colombia for the first time. With a total of about 5 Spanish words in my vocab. I’d been warned by a Colombian living in Colombia “Don’t come. It’s too dangerous”. I didn’t know why I was going. But for whatever reason I’d chosen to ignore the Colombian’s advice and be on that plane to Colombia.
I was on the last of the 4 plane rides that took me to Colombia, by then in Spanish speaking territory. The same plane I’m about to get on again now. I looked around at the people and noticed that every other tourist on my last 3 plane rides had arrived at their destinations and departed by now. Why wasn’t anyone else going on to Colombia? What the hell was I doing going to Colombia? About that time I started to feel anxious.
The Orishas Remedy
Atypically for me I grabbed the airline headphones to try and find some music that might help soothe my anxiety, or at least maybe help me progress my Spanish faster.
A few moments later, to my absolute delight, I heard the sweet musical sounds of Orishas coming through the head phones. It was a totally unique mix of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms with hip hop beats, scratching, really cool raps and beautiful melodic male vocals.
That was my first beautiful taste of Latin fusion music (Orishas are Cuban, based in Europe since the late 1990’s).
It woke me up to the fact that I was about to enter and explore a whole new magical world of Latin fusion music sounds. When I realised that, my Colombian anxiety instantly transformed into excitement and a smile.
The rest of my Colombian & other Latin fusion music story is history. Part of that history definitely includes hours and hours of Orishas music listening and dancing pleasure. The future will too.
The Music
Have a listen to some sample tracks from the Orishas albums. Try to imagine all the extra sounds you’d hear in the music if you didn’t have to listen in MP3 format. Maybe you’ll buy the CDs and that will become part of your listening and dancing future?
Orishas music is by the way, a perfect illustration of the distinct fusion music I was trying to explain in WTF is fusion music anyway Beaver?.
A Lo Cubano (1999)
04 A Lo Cubano
10 Canto Para Elew Y Chango
Emigrante (2002)
06 Niños
08 Gladiadores
El Kilo (2005)
08 Al Que No Le Guste
11 La Calle
Antidiotico (2007) Essentially a ‘best of” album
Cosita Buena (2008)
01 Cosita Buena
09 Machete
To Colombia with a Smile
Orishas was a top quality introduction to Latin fusion music – and are one of my all time favourite musical finds. I remember them today, because exactly 6 years ago they sent me to Colombia with a big smile on my face.
So then, HOLA COLOMBIA again! I come with a smile this time too, because I know we’re definitely going to share many delightful musical experiences in the coming months. Hopefully lots of them will be fusion ones.
P.S . Sadly, Orishas is no longer – but the 5 albums remain forever after, and are available to buy.
