SOL, the forthcoming album from Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos sees powerful Venezuelan rhythms and traditional songs interweave with spiritual and futuristic jazz, psychedelic funk, experimental electronics and Afrobeat drumming
New single Como el Sol is John Coltrane’s Like Sonny reimagined over Afro-Venezuelan drums, aided by Venezuelan master percussionist Gustavo Ovalles, and gritty Mwandishi-style synths
New UK tour dates in London (The Jago, 10 July) and Cornwall (Tropical Pressure Festival, 11 July) announced
DJ and Radio support:
Andrew Jervis (Bandcamp Weekly), Worldwide FM, Music Planet (BBC Radio 3), DJ Kobayashi, Twilight Transmissions, None More Records (Soho Radio), Justin Turford (Totally Wired), Alex Paletta (Radio Capital, IT), Luis Oliveira (RTP Antena 3, PT), Tropeninstitut (Byte FM, DE), Radio Pulsar (FR), Pedro Fumero (WFMU, US) Miia Laine (Radio Helsinki, FIN)
Live dates
3 March, Nijmegen, NL Merleyn LINK
4 March, Amsterdam, NL Paradiso LINK
5 March, Rotterdam, NL Bird LINK
29 March, Montreuil, FR Théâtre Municipal Berthelot LINK
6 June, Belfort, FR FIMU Festival LINK
10 July, London, UK The Jago LINK
11 July, Cornwall, UK Tropical Pressure Festival LINK
+ More dates TBA
The Backstory
SOL bridges the deep roots of African and indigenous Venezuelan traditions with a forward-looking embrace of modern influences. Drawing inspiration from the funky futurism of George Clinton to Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi period, and from Jeff Parker to Nyege Nyege Tapes, SOL resonates as both culturally anchored and utterly modern. Featuring an array of impeccable artists from across the music scene; UK artist and producer Emanative, Congolese guitarist and former member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80, Kiala Nzavotunga, and with production by Heliocentrics’ Malcolm Catto, frequent collaborator with Madlib and Quantic, and Yann Jankielewicz musical director of Tony Allen’s band.
Como el Sol (“Like the sun”) is their second single from the album SOL where John Coltrane’s Like Sonny is reimagined over Afro-Venezuelan drums, aided by Venezuelan master percussionist Gustavo Ovalles, and gritty, Mwandishi-style synths. Its centrality to the album is clear by its title, and the lyrical content of the chant towards its end, beseeching the sun to “not go out”, to bring abundance and blessings, to see all, and to “let your soul shine”.
At its heart, SOL reflects a theme of rebirth and perseverance. The sun — representing renewal, consistency, and radiant energy — is a profound symbol in the album, echoing the vibrant June 24th celebrations of Saint John the Baptist in Venezuela’s coastal regions. These festivals, which align with the summer solstice, embody resilience, cultural identity, and spiritual freedom, paying homage to Afro-Venezuelan ancestors who resisted oppression through music, dance, and unity. The acclaimed Venezuelan singer Carlos Tález, a leading figure in traditional Venezuelan folk music, and Venezuelan master percussionist Gustavo Ovalles (David Murray, Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita) join the group to pay authentic homage to these traditions on SOL.
SOL marks a transformative next step for Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos, a testament to the group’s evolving artistry and strengthened group dynamic. Having grown from a studio project to a touring band, the group’s closer synergy is evident in their bold explorations of sound and song. By incorporating new influences, experiments and collaborations, SOL not only pushes their creative boundaries but also solidifies their identity as a vibrant force in modern Venezuelan and global music.