Artist__│ Juanita Euka

01. Alma Seca                                                    4:51
02. Mboka Moko                                                   4:36
03. For All It's Worth                                           5:35
04. Suenos De Libertad                                           4:33
05. Nalingi Mobali Te                                            5:05
06. Blood                                                        4:30
07. Bano De Oro                                                  4:50
08. Motema                                                       6:17
09. Camarades                                                    6:27
10. War Is Over                                                  4:25
11. Irresolute                                                   5:16
12. Alma Seca (Acoustic Version)                                 4:08

Strut present the debut solo album Mabanzo by Congolese vocalist, Juanita
Euka. A familiar face to many from London’s vibrant live music scene over
the last decade, Juanita has fronted London Afrobeat Collective’s dynamic
live shows, the fusions and cross-pollinations of Animanz and maverick
Cuban collective Wara. As a solo artist, she broke through in early 2020,
performing her single ‘Alma Seca’ in series 3 of blockbuster series
Killing Eve.

Originally from DR Congo and brought up in Buenos Aires, Juanita’s
upbringing involved many different musical influences, not least her
uncle, Congolese rumba giant Franco Luambo Makiadi. “In Argentina, I
listened to a wide range of styles from African-American artists to
Dominican stars like Juan Luis Guerra, the Congolese greats like my uncle
and Papa Wemba and various artists from Argentina including Mercedes
Sosa. Some of my main inspirations were (and still are) international
Afro-Cuban artists like Celia Cruz and La Lupe.” Moving to the UK aged
14, she joined Afro-Peruvian band Malambo and immersed herself in
London’s own sounds, from Soul to Jazz to Funk.

With her new album Mabanzo (meaning ‘Thoughts’), Juanita brings together
her many and varied musical influences into play and pulls no lyrical
punches. Killer dancefloor single ‘Nalingi Mobali Te’ is pure
contemporary Congolese guitar gold, ‘Mboka Moka’ channels ‘80s boogie and
Quincy horn stylings on an anthem for personal struggle and ‘Baño de Oro’
brings a heavy Afro-Cuban workout. Elsewhere, the epic ballad ‘Sueños de
Libertad’ is an impassioned call for freedom and the lilting ‘For All
It’s Worth’ champions love over materialism.

Recorded entirely at home studios during lockdown, the album was
painstakingly constructed by producer Greg Sanders with all musicians
recorded remotely. “I have always written songs and poems since I was
young,” reflects Euka. “I met Greg, a multi-instrumentalist and producer,
while I was in Wara and we started the journey towards a solo project.
Greg has that knowledge and vision of different sounds and it is the
perfect way to celebrate my music journey. I have tried to bring all of
the musical heritage that I have experienced into my album.”

learned from vets

ain't pet doctors

https://www.deezer.com/us/album/279154682