Photo courtesy of the artist
With Cuba's once-barricaded culture now open to the US, its electronic music scene has now become an increasing topic of interest. Before the country held its first-ever electronic and folk fusion music festival, Manana, THUMP profiled one of the scene's established stars, Isnay Rodriguez aka DJ Jigüe, who we dubbed "Cuba's answer to J Dilla" due to his proclivity for samples.
Today, THUMP is premiering a track from Jigüe's forthcoming ÑAPA EP titled "Dengele (Makuta Club)" ft. ALVA. Like the Manana aesthetic, it sees the producer bridge electronic music with his Afro-Cuban culture, layering native chants atop a hip-winding chorus of shakers and drums, and a subtle acid-laced synth line."This song is a fusion of an Afrocuban rhythm, Makuta, with electronic music," Rodriguez tells THUMP. "Makuta drums are accredited to being the predecessor to the tumbadora, or conga drum. Makuta drums are often used in sacred ceremonies that African slaves brought to Cuba during the times of slavery. Makuta is not only the name of the rhythm and drum, but it is also a dance. Dengele is the first song that that I've made remixing makuta rhythm with electronic music and the result is something I'm calling Makuta Club."Listen to "Dengele (Makuta Club)" ft. ALVA below ahead of the ÑAPA EP release via Guampara Music on August 30.