Explores the frontier between social dance and experimentalism, and seeks to erode the divisions between the popular and the avant-garde.Led by Efraín Rozas on keyboards and guitar, Felipe Wurst on guitar, Joel Mateo on timbales, Guillermo Barrón on congas and Dan Martínez on bass. With this project I wish to contribute to developing of the re-contextualization of Latin American music beyond the cliches of the tropical kitsch, through the development of a experimentalism from the global south. To regain tradition as a form of agency, to promote a poly-centric world as opposed to an art world that needs to comply with Western criteria of “World Music”.
Reviews
The New Album “Roza Cruz” was named among the best Latin American albums of the decade by Zona Sucia and Estereofonía, best Peruvian album of 2018 by Rock Achorao, Conciertos Perú, El Comercio and one of the best albums in the world in 2018 by Gladys Palmera (Spain) and Zona de Obras (Spain), and KCRW.
“Best albums of the decade in Latin America”- Zona Sucia
“Best Peruvian albums of the decade”- Estereofonía“Radical Afro-Latin futurism”- NPR
“Brings tradition to new creative heights”- Remezcla
“10/10.”- Juno Download
“Awesome”- Afropop Worldwide
“This is not new Latin music, it’s new music”- Gladys Palmera
La Mecánica Popular has been featured at NYC Central Park Summerstage for the 50th Anniversary of Fania Records, Brooklyn Museum, Levitation Festival, Queens Museum, BBC, CNN, and NPR.
Roza Cruz Tour 2020
Listen, buy vinyl or download the new LP “Roza Cruz” here:
Excerpt of recording session for “Roza Cruz” album
Video directed by Muriel Holguin, from the first self-titled LP
Interview for Remezcla
Listen or Download the First self titled LP here (Vinyl sold out):