Town Hall Seattle and SAMA: Music+Art present
Global Rhythms: Novalima
Echoes of Peru: Rhythm, Roots & Revolution
EVENT NOTES
Lobby doors for this event will open at 6:00 PM. The Great Hall will open for seating at 7:00 PM.
Free and reduced cost tickets made possible in part by
Started by four friends from Lima with a shared passion for traditional Afro-Peruvian music and global DJ culture, Novalima bridges past and future, uniting tradition and innovation.
The founders of Novalima, Ramon Perez-Prieto, Grimaldo Del Solar, Rafael Morales, and Carlos Li Carrillo, became friends and started playing together in Lima during high school, playing a pivotal part in the 80s underground hardcore punk and the 90s psychedelic/acid-rock scenes. Growing up, Ramon, Grimaldo, Rafael, and Carlos listened to traditional Peruvian folk music regularly in family gatherings and on the street, while also relentlessly explored new sounds in Rock, Dub Reggae, Latin and Electronic Music, which led to the delightful discovery of the fusion of genres, creating their unique sound.
As they grew older, distance drew them apart, but the thrill of building new music brought them back together. During their early experimentations blending Afro-Peruvian sounds with electronica, the friends were scattered across the globe. From their homes in London, Barcelona, Hong Kong , and Lima they emailed song ideas to each other. These long-distance recordings resulted in their first album in 2002 album, the self-titled Novalima.
Known worldwide for breaking boundaries and uniting seemingly irreconcilable genres, communities, and generations, Novalima has revolutionized the music scene in their native Peru by bridging a longstanding divide between the mainstream and the minority Afro-Peruvian community, who have struggled against discrimination and cultural dissolution for generations. With each album they seek new ways to connect the success and struggle of the present to the unforgotten and sometimes painful history of the past. On one album, they play with ancient sounds, languages and instruments from the Andes and the Amazon. On another, they highlight the new generation of artists around the world, giving them an opportunity to reinterpret their African heritage.
No matter the story they tell, it’s hard to resist hip sway in the driving rhythms of their songs.
Watch: NOVALIMA – La Danza (Official Video)
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Novalima is a Latin Grammy nominated band formed in 2001 by four childhood friends, with music based on afro-Peruvian percussion and chants (many from times of slavery), mixed with influences from Dub Reggae, Electronic beats, funk, soul & afrobeat. As of 2021, Novalima has released 6 studio albums and 5 remix albums, and has toured extensively throughout the globe playing in the most prestigious festivals: Central Park Summer Stage, Chicago’s Millennium Park, Montreal Jazz Fest, Womad, Womex, Roskilde Festival, amongst others. This year, Novalima celebrates their 20th anniversary with the release of La Danza, on San Francisco’s Six Degrees Records.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle and SAMA: Music+Art.
Global Atmosphere
Pre-Show Food and Beverages starting at 6PM
Starting at 6:00PM, mingle in the Lobby and enjoy food for purchase from local vendors; specialty beverages will also be available at our cafe. Come early, get some dinner, and immerse yourself in the flavors of the culture before the show.
This is part of the Global Rhythms Series
In-Kind Media Support provided by KEXP.