#afro-latin

This is very frustrating.

Strut present the debut solo album Mabanzo by Congolese vocalist, Juanita Euka. A familiar face to many from London’s vibrant live music scene over the last decade, Juanita has fronted London Afrobeat Collective’s dynamic live shows, the fusions and cross-pollinations of Animanz and maverick Cuban collective Wara. As a solo artist, she broke through in early 2020, performing her single ‘Alma Seca’ in series 3 of blockbuster series Killing Eve. Originally from DR Congo and brought up in Buenos Aires, Juanita’s upbringing involved many different musical influences, not least her uncle, Congolese rumba giant Franco Luambo Makiadi. “In Argentina, I listened to a wide range of styles from African-American artists to Dominican stars like Juan Luis Guerra, the Congolese greats like my uncle and Papa Wemba and various artists from Argentina including Mercedes Sosa. Some of my main inspirations were (and still are) international Afro-Cuban artists like Celia Cruz and La Lupe.” Moving to the UK aged 14, she joined Afro-Peruvian band Malambo and immersed herself in London’s own sounds, from Soul to Jazz to Funk. With her new album Mabanzo (meaning ‘Thoughts’), Juanita brings together her many and varied musical influences into play and pulls no lyrical punches. Killer dancefloor single ‘Nalingi Mobali Te’ is pure contemporary Congolese guitar gold, ‘Mboka Moka’ channels ‘80s boogie and Quincy horn stylings on an anthem for personal struggle and ‘Baño de Oro’ brings a heavy Afro-Cuban workout. Elsewhere, the epic ballad ‘Sueños de Libertad’ is an impassioned call for freedom and the lilting ‘For All It’s Worth’ champions love over materialism. Recorded entirely at home studios during lockdown, the album was painstakingly constructed by producer Greg Sanders with all musicians recorded remotely. “I have always written songs and poems since I was young,” reflects Euka. “I met Greg, a multi-instrumentalist and producer, while I was in Wara and we started the journey towards a solo project. Greg has that knowledge and vision of different sounds and it is the perfect way to celebrate my music journey. I have tried to bring all of the musical heritage that I have experienced into my album.” Juanita Euka: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals Greg Sanders: Guitars, Bass Guitars, Keys, Synths, Programming Sara Farina: Bass Guitar Tom Herbert: Upright Bass Chris Williams, Leo Richardsdon, Sam Rapley: Saxophones Eliane Correa: Keys Will Fry, Ernesto Marichales, Leandro Mancini-Olivos, Richard Olatunde Baker, Lya Reis Guerruero: Percussion Flora Curzon: Violin Kareem Dayes: Cello Fabio De Oliveira, Ben Assiter, George Bird: Drumkit Graeme Flowers: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Kieran McLeod, Landy Diaz: Trombone Jonathan Whitten: Hammered Dulcimer All tracks arranged & produced by Greg Sanders All tracks mixed by Lester Salmins

Celia Cruz with La Sonora Matancera (ca. 1950)

Baby Celia

All tracks written & produced by Pablo Carpignano between 2015 - 2020, except “Axêxê” (Original Sample from Gabriel S. Carvalho), “Mi Mai“, produced with Daniela Nanclares (voice). “Puro Estracto” was produced with Agustín Jarkowsky (Jarki). Featuring: Miriam Gomes: vocals & lyrics in “N’goni Vá”. Daniela Nanclares: vocals & lyrics in “Mi Mai“. Agustín Jarkowski: Guitars and Theremin in “Puro Estracto“ and Guitar in Axêxê. Vocal sample in Annica dub: S. N. Goenka Marco Barbieri: Synth on “La Pelona” Santiago Aragón: Trumpet on “African Midi” Artwork by Alejandro Sordi www.instagram.com/alejandro_sordi/