M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, People's Champs, Congo Sanchez (feat. Jeffrey "Congo" Franca of Thievery Corporation)

Comprised of 8 members, hailing mostly from Colombia, M.A.K.U. SoundSystem makes big music that begins in traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms and ends somewhere in the punk-jazz stratosphere. Clarinet, trombone, sax, guitarra, and Latin percussion supplement a rambunctious, driving rock core, creating a sound familiar enough to be danceable but always surprising.



An all-star collective known for mixing experimental rock and soul with Afrobeat, Soukous, Mbalax from West Africa as well as Cumbia and Tropicalia from South America, People's Champs is quickly establishing itself as one of Brooklyn's freshest new bands. With its "crazy ass genre mash ups", People's Champs rock 80s electro-accordion riffs, tasty R&B vocals and gritty drum grooves to create a sound that’s equal parts Fela Kuti, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Michael Jackson, Tears for Fears and Dirty Projectors. Critics are calling People’s Champs a “New York supergroup!” (Lucid Culture) and "Well on their way to becoming NYC's de facto Funk and Afrobeat experience" (Deli Magazine).

Among many high-profile collaborations, its horn section, under the name The Superpower Horns, is the recording studio horn section of Beyoncé Knowles. They wrote and arranged the horn lines on Beyoncé's 2013 surprise album 'Beyoncé' as well as her 2011 effort '4'. "Love on Top", featuring The Superpower Horns, from '4' won a GRAMMY Award. When asked about the horn section, Beyoncé recently gushed, “those guys are genius!”

Members of People's Champs perform internationally with artists including Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Delicate Steve, Tortured Soul, Cuddle Magic, Railbird, The Pimps of Joytime, John Brown's Body, Slavic Soul Party!, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds and many others.



"The evolution of this ensemble has happened naturally over the past year and a half. Having captivated audiences from coast to coast, and finished up their first full length record, it is clear that Congo, Haile and Flex are on the rise as a cutting edge musical force. The influences in the music are quite diverse. Congo's time as the drummer for Thievery Corporation has clearly had an affect on his ears as he continues to explore the downtempo, reggae mezcla, with an obvious hip-hop overtone to the over all musical composition. You will be taken through an array of sounds and rhythms, paying homage to the roots of music with thick layers of percussion, signature to the Congo Sanchez sound. Most importantly the band puts out a conscious message which is typically non existent in most of the music we hear these days."

"Dealin' With This," the first full length from Congo Sanchez is an amalgamation of musical influences symbiotically continuing the unique sound achieved by producer and creator Jeffrey James Franca AKA "Congo." The album features the vocal talents of band members Flex Mathews and Haile Supreme, as well as special guests Mr. Lif, Ras Nebyu, and Brittany Tanner. You will even hear a small choir of the bands nieces and nephews featured on the opening cut, "Gentrified Children." Each song tells a different story touching on the real life experiences of the band. From the perils of life on the road, broken hearts and dreams, to deceased family members and political protest pieces, "Dealin' with this" takes it there in all directions. A refreshing, relatable presentation of word and sound, with a relevant, thought provoking message.