The meeting of Afro-Colombian music and futuristic electronic sounds.
The latest addition to Colombia’s vibrant music scene, Nuevos Ríos offers a breathtaking journey into the Afro-descendant traditions of the Colombian Pacific, enhanced by electronic and amplified sounds. The result is stunning. Never losing its way, this odyssey transcends boundaries, guiding us through a new river with countless meanders. You can feel the warmth of the Tropics, the embodied power of musical traditions, and the sweat of European dance floors, all mixed into a unique, quickly addictive, sometimes introspective, and irresistibly danceable cocktail.
Born from the collaboration between the Colombians of Canalón de Timbiquí, the original group of the enchanting and unmistakable voice of Maestra Nidia Góngora (Quantic, Ondatropica, The Bongo Hop…) and the Toulouse-based Reco Reco, enthusiasts of trance music explorations especially from South America, the Nuevos Ríos project finds its roots along the banks of the Rio Timbiquí.
Far from the beaten path, in Colombia’s Pacific region, the two groups naturally came together in the village of Timbiquí, where the musical roots of Canalón de Timbiquí and Nidia Góngora lie. Through improvised music sessions on the ground floor of Nidia’s house, the hybridization of their sounds emerged as a natural expression of a shared desire to bring the power of this human and musical encounter to discerning ears.
This first chapter, released on ZZK Records, a label renowned for showcasing South American gems (Son Rompe Pera, Ghetto Kumbé, La Yegros…), is driven by the songwriting and singular voice of Nidia Góngora. Across the tracks, every element of the ensemble has its place. The percussion power of the Colombian Pacific and the poetry of the Marimba de Chonta catch us alongside delicious guitar riffs that hint at West Africa. The voices shine at the intersection of electronic textures, while drums and bass keyboards lock together to propel the self-titled Nuevos Ríos forward. The lyrics depict a life closely tied to nature, centered around a river that serves as both artery and channel of exchange, while not ignoring the harsh realities of a region affected by Colombia’s ongoing internal conflicts. And what if this music were the first response to some of these ills, a ritual of collective celebration?
In collaboration with Klakson & ZZK Records