BURAKA SOM SISTEMA

The wild beats of Angolan Kuduro music have been big in Lisbon clubs since the late 90s and Buraka Som Sistema – AKA J-WOW, Riot, Kalaf and Conductor – have fused it with 21st century electronics to create a whole new sound. This electro ghettotech take on their favourite South West African music has began quickening and corrupting dancefloors all over the world on the basis of their first EP, with sounds not many had heard before.

J-WOW and Riot began making music together in their teens, but the core of Buraka Som Sistema formed when the two began working with Angolan producer, Conductor, who brought along an extensive knowledge of Kuduro music to the equation, and Angolan MC, Kalaf. Buraka Som Sistema draw influences from the music of their youth and culture, fusing it with the inspiration taken from music genres as diverse as techno, drum’n’bass, hip hop and dance music. A revolving cast of talents completed the picture for Buraka, including guest vocals from Petty, M.I.A., Pongolove, Nolay and DJ Znobia.

After the immediate success of the debut album ‘Black Diamond’, Buraka Som Sistema retreated to the studio, spending the last 11 months working on the follow-up, ‘Komba.’ For this new release, the band recruited the support of collaborators like Sara Tavares, Roses Gabor, Terry Lynn and Afrikan Boy, as well as Blaya, who after spending three years on tour with the group, had become an indispensable presence on stage. The result is a merger between the two universes in which Buraka shines – the major concert arenas and the electronic clubs – a record that finds the guys coming into their role as a band, marking a clear evolution since the days of their first EP ‘From Buraka To The World’.

They’ve since been taking their unmistakeable sound around the world, surprising party-seeking festival-goers at Coachella (US), Bestival (UK), Roskilde (DK), Glastonbury (UK), FujiRock (JP), I Love Techno (BE) or HardFest NY (US) with a high-powered concert that never fails to impress. Energetic, fun and sweaty would be one way to describe it, but you’ll have to see it to believe it.

Bárbara Delgado (Portugal): agencia@enchufada.com // +351 914 430 006

Belinda Law (Europe): belinda@elasticartists.com

Carter Adams (US): carter@windishagency.com