Drawing from diverse musical backgrounds, Austin’s Cilantro Boombox creates an energetic, positive vibe that flows from the dance floor through your body and soul. The group was founded over a decade ago by bassist Félix Pacheco and saxophonist/flautist Joe Woullard, and quickly evolved into a tight knit unit adding the songwriting abilities of Christopher “Zumbi” Richards (Trombone, Vocals), Andres Villegas (Guitar, vocals), Joshua Thomson (alto sax), Micah Shalom (trumpet), and Gustavo Hernandez (drums).
Their lively energy and unique fusion of brass instrumentation, electronic music, and Latin and Pan-African sounds have earned them a strong following both locally and nationally, playing notable festivals including SXSW, Austin Reggae Fest, KUTX’s Summer Jam, and Musikfest. Their momentum continues by winning a grant from the prestigious Black Fret organization in 2019 and again nominated for 2020.
Today Glide is excited to premiere Cilantro Boombox’s second to two news singles, “Y O U.” The song is an ode to the ocean and the Caribbean Sea, a place that is a constant inspiration for the band as a region where they draw many of their influences. You can hear this right away in the dancehall reggae sound that feels like a song that is made for dancing on the beach under the moonlight. With an electro funk bass and synth groove and the subtle flourishes of guitar that brings to mind Malian desert rock, the song is truly an amalgamation of musical that styles that comes together to form an infectious, globe-trotting nugget of R&B. Working in brass and a danceable percussion track, the song captures this group’s ability to lay into Afrobeat-influenced grooves that stretch out into trance-like territory. Ultimately, it’s fascinating and downright impressive to hear a band drawing so effortlessly on so many worldly influences.
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