Quantic residency with Nicola Cruz

Nicola Cruz is a producer, musician and DJ born in France, from an American family. He currently works and lives in Quito, Ecuador, in the heart of the Andes. His career began as a percussionist, which later led him to electronic music. He seeks to include sources of very different nature, in particular the passion for the landscapes of his land, with their cultures, rituals and rhythms. Thus his music radiates an intimate understanding of nature. However, in this mixture always prevails a delicate balance of forces: His music is deeply rhythmic but without neglecting the melody, and despite training in collaboration with artists from different times and places, never stops being intimate.

Through his musical connection between past and present, traditional and modern, he is on a quest to make music with a spiritual component, with consciousness, exploring indigenous cosmology and African region.

In 2015, 'Ignite the Soul', his first full-length album released by the legendary label ZZK, seeks to consolidate his sonic explorations and go beyond making music.


Quantic is the recording alias of British-born musician, Will Holland. Holland's sound is rooted in the richness of the golden age of recording with a fearless modern bite for the dance floor. His productions connect progressive musical ideas with spontaneous musicianship, exciting tonality & a fine ear for detail. His travels have lead him to record, collaborate & perform all over the world, from Festivals in Brasil, clubs in his native England and the outdoor stages of Japan. Beginning his career at 16, Holland cut his teeth with downtempo and instrumental-beats releases on 45 records - first with UK label Breakin Bread Records and later, Tru Thoughts. During the early 2000's, he moved to Brighton and developed a fresh and original take on the renaissance of funk, soul and Afrobeat with popular side project the Quantic Soul Orchestra. Holland produced three albums with the Q.S.O., collaborating with the likes of legendary American soul singer Spanky Wilson, and Alice Russell; (Holland's soul anthem 'Pushin On' with Russell was recently sampled for Oliver Dollar's Ibiza hit 'Pushing On???). In 2005 he collaborated with NY-based producer Nickodemus on the salsa hit 'Mi Swing Es Tropical' (this tune received worldwide exposure through its use in a 2007 iTunes commercial, as well as the 2014 movie 'Chef'). After a year of travelling and recording through Puerto Rico, Panama and Colombia the album ???Tropidelico??? was released; itself a sonic adventure through Cumbia, Soul and Salsa. With a move to Cali, Colombia in 2007, Holland explored an ardent interest in tropical rhythms of the region and it was there he established his Sonido del Valle studio. This culminated in records from side projects Los Miticos Del Ritmo, Quantic and His Combo B??rbaro and Ondatropica, as well as the soulful and psychedelic LP 'Look Around the Corner' with long time collaborator Alice Russell. He also produced a 2011 EP with Serato: 'Hiphop en Cumbia,' which saw Holland paying tribute to his hip hop favourites in accordion laden Cumbia-style. Holland released his fifth studio record 'Magnetica' in 2013 under the Quantic moniker; it received critical acclaim for its marriage of South American folklore and a strong return to Holland's signature electronic aesthetic. Nidia Gongora, a Colombian Pacifico folklorist, a frequent collaborator from Holland's time Cali was prominently featured on this record. Holland's pioneering and enigmatic productions as well as his musical expressions as Guitarist, Accordionist, DJ, Studio Engineer & Music Compiler have earned him an international fanbase and constant engagements as a music selector, remixer and band director. He has 16 studio albums under his belt, as well as several compilations. He has collaborated and recorded with the likes of Ana Tijoux, Jorge Drexler, Shinehead, Anibal Velasquez, and more. Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, Holland released a new Flowering Inferno album on June 17th featuring vocalists U-Roy, Hollie Cook, Alice Russell, Nidia G??ngora, and Christopher Ellis as well as legendary drummer Santa Davis.