“…this Toronto collective conjure up a distinctive hybrid of Afrobeat, salsa and funk.”
The Guardian, UK
“…trust me. This is some good shit.”
Noisey Music, New York, NY
“J’aime l’approche psyché et l’originalité du projet”
Les Inrocks magazine, Paris, France
“One of the most exciting fusion bands in the country”
Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun, Canada
“I have been programming festivals for over 30 years and ” The Battle of Santiago” deliver it all. Ancient knowledge, great dance beats, and musicianship. What a great act!”
Ismael Ahmed, Curator of CONCERT OF COLORS, Detroit, MI
Battle of Santiago
Toronto-based group the Battle of Santiago combines classic Afro-Cuban rhythms and vocals with a distinctly Canadian art-rock spirit and sensibility. While Canada is well-known for its thriving indie rock and electronic scenes, the country is seldom thought of as a Latin music hotbed. But Toronto hosts many thriving immigrant communities — including one of the largest Cuban expat communities in North America — and the Battle of Santiago is strongly rooted in the city’s wealth of Cuban musical talent. The band’s recent release La Migra dives deep into Afro-Cuban waters, mixing Afro-Cuban Yoruba chants with subtle electronica and rumbas with post-rock experimentalism. The sound is more than just Radiohead meets Fela Kuti there’s some cumbia tinged with dub anthemic Latin rock and even the smooth funk.
