Orquesta Akokán is set to release “16 Rayos” on the dance floors worldwide through Daptone Records. The album was recorded at Havana’s renowned Egrem Studios, showcasing a tight-knit group dynamic honed through extensive performing and touring. What initially sparked in the Areito studios culminated in a natural, close-knit exchange among band members – enabling uninhibited musical expression and venturing beyond their comfort zones.
Drawing inspiration from Perez Prado’s bold, almost avant-garde interpretation of the mambo and emphasizing the Lucumí undertones of Cuban rhythms and styles, the ensemble delves into the island’s diverse rhythmic spectrum, challenging traditional notions of “mambo.” By delving into folkloric and spiritual traditions rarely explored in mainstream music, Orquesta Akokán’s “16 Rayos” illuminates with its musical brilliance, warming our souls and compelling us to move irresistibly to its beats.
