Nicola Cruz's music invokes the landscapes and rituals of his homeland, Ecuador, a country that is home both to the Andes mountains and the Amazon jungle. His music is an exploration of ancient mythologies and folkloric traditions in a modern setting. Nicola was born in Limoges, France, to Ecuadorian parents. His upbringing was surrounded by a rich musical education in both indigenous traditions and Western theories and from a young age he took to percussion.
From this musical connection between past and present, traditional and modern, an ongoing South American movement has arisen, exploring the local indigenous and Afro-cosmologies through a carefully crafted analogue sound.
In 2012 Nicola collaborated with Nicolas Jaar's now defunct label, Clown & Sunset. Prender el Alma, Nicola's debut album, was released on ZZK Records on October 30th of this year.
Nicola Cruz is perhaps the most well known proponent of forward thinking dance music with latin - or to be more precise, Andean - influences. Still based in Quito, Ecuador in the Andean foothills, his work continues to imbue the folk traditions and instruments of the area with a new emotional resonance for modern dancefloors. In 2019 he'll return to Sónar with a new show and album that we'll be able to talk more about very soon.
In 2016, when he first played Sónar, Nicola Cruz was little known on the international circuit. It was clear to anyone who saw the show, or watched the replay on youtube, that wouldn't remain the case for long. The show, which showcased his LP Prender el Alma followed collaborations with Nicolas Jaar and stints as a sound artist. His fascination with the ancient music and traditions of the Andes was further developed on Espíritu and Cantos de Vision - both released on the excellent Montreal label Multi Culti. These 2017 releases took his music, and his renown, to a new level, leading to performances at venues and festivals around the world, and full circle to SonarHall, the stage where many discovered him for the first time.
There is no schedule or ticket right now.
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