Tekumbe

 

Tekumbé’s music is a fusion between Vallenato, Salsa, Cumbia, and Gaita, with elements of blues, rock and reggae .Tekumbé was created in Norman, Oklahoma, in April of 2009. Most of its members used to play in a band called Tierradentro.
 
Tekumbé’s band members come from very different backgrounds and different countries. Franz Mutis (accordion and gaita) , Camilo Mutis (lead voice and minor percussion) , and Alan Garrido (rhythmic guitar) are all from Colombia. Andrés Lucas, the lead guitarist is from Venezuela. Josué Chavez, the bass guitarist, and Stefan Ice, the percussionist, are from the USA. Although genres like rock, blues, jazz, and techno music are all influences for its members, they all share a great passion for Latin rhythms like Vallenato, Salsa, Cumbia, and Gaita.
 
For their original songs, Tekumbé has been inspired in social topics, Latin culture, and love for their mother lands. The band has protested against the violence conflict in Colombia, the traffic of drugs, the gap between social classes, and the kidnapping problem in Colombia in their songs. Tekumbé also performs folkloric music such as Vallenato, Cumbia, Porro, Gaita, Bullerengue, and Merengue. The band tries to recover valuable pieces of the Colombian folklore that have been forgotten over years and has spiced them with new sounds, and a fresher look to bring them back to scene and share them with audiences of Latin America, USA, and citizens of the world.
 
Tekumbé is close to releasing their first album, entitled “Sabor a Guayaba”. This is an expression used in one of their original songs. Guayaba means Guava in English, and for the band members this is a representation of Latin flavor, although with globalization, the fruit is known around the world nowadays. Enye Music and Ares studio in Norman sponsored Tekumbé’s CD. The music company and the recording studio believed in the music that the band produces and believed in the talent and character of its members.
 
Tekumbé performs most of the time in Oklahoma and the south of USA (Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas). It is already preparing their first tour to Colombia and has plans to play in other states such as Florida, California, and Georgia. Tekumbé has performed in arena shows, university auditoriums, concert halls, outdoor music and art festivals, Latin clubs, bars, theaters, and special events at museums.
 
The band’s passion for music and talented members ensures a successful future for the band.