La Descarga

Bio

A fearless outburst of tropicality

La Descarga band is an iconic Latin-Australian music band where Colombian tropical roots music mixes with contemporary Aussie stamps. Born in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, as a tribute to the folkloric rhythms of the coasts of Colombia and as a preserver of its cultural heritage, it has evolved for over a decade through diverse musical and cultural collaborations, into a forerunner of Latin-Aussie-tropical music.

While blending the traditions with electric and electronic sounds, it brings original tunes as well as old time retakes of the golden tropical days of Colombian music.

Originally performing traditional drums, marimba, gaita flutes, with cantadores y cantadoras (traditional singers) and folkloric dancers, its traditional sound has merged, throughout collaborations with Australian musicians, with psychedelia, electronica and dub, expanding in 2018 to it’s the Electropical Orchestra format.

Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts including Cumbia, Gaita, Champeta, Porro, Currulao, Chandé, Mapalé, Tambora.

La Descarga has been influenced deeply by the street carnival cultures of Latin America with their upbeat music, colours and dance, mixing the old and the new grooves and moves of Colombian and world tropical culture; and bringing these vibes to the stage and street environments of many of Australia’s most beloved festivals including MOOMBA, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Darwin Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Australian Multicultural Festival, White Night Melbourne, Reservoir Stomp, Waterfront Festival and Darebin Music Feast.

La Descarga has released several singles including 'Eliminala', 'Chande Gozoso', and 'Ten Mucho Cuidado' and will release it’s first LP in 2023.

TRADITION FORMAT

Feel like sitting on the beach, in the Colombian coast, at sunset, and the town has started a night of celebration.

La Descarga-Tradition is the traditional format of the band resembling the original ensembles of the coasts of Colombia. Where artists perform folkloric music and dance.

ELECTROPICAL ORCHESTRA FORMAT

Feel like being in a festival or ball room, in a city in Latin America, with a full orchestra, mixing traditional and contemporary sounds, and everyone is dancing to a tropicalicious time.

La Descarga - Electropical Orchestra is a fresh, contemporary and exciting take on Colombian coastal rhythms. While blending the traditions with the electric and electronic sounds, it brings original tunes as well as old time retakes of the golden tropical days of Colombian music.

BAND MEMBERS

La Descarga is led by interdisciplinary artist Jorge Leiva and features award-winner producer Oscar Vargas, Melbourne’s leading gaita players Felipe Paz and Andres Carreño and recognised dancer and choreographer Kathleen Gonzalez, with Maria Paula Espinoza on percussion and Camila Gonzalez on bass. The Electropical Orchestra, the extended family of La Descarga includes Dandelion Jackson on saxophone (Mr. Manifold and the Resolution, The Pirateska Rebellion), Lauren Mullarvey on clarinet (The Cactus Channel) and Mat Robb (Miss Colombia, Nardia) in guitars psychedelia, electronica and dub to the Caribbean and Afro-Colombian grooves.

La Descarga also explores these traditions through diverse workshops mixing education, team building, music, dance and cultural expression. La Descarga holds workshops at educational institutions, festivals, community events and corporate events.

Music

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Eliminala 3:45

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Press / Reviews

“Their music reflects Australian pluricultural society where world rhythms fuse with rock, pop and electronic sounds. Their performances combine colour, upbeat tropical rhythms,
psychedelic guitars and synths and exotic sounds bringing a feast for ears and eyes.”
Felix Riebl, The Cat Empire

“Jorge is a great musician and collaborator. His musical style is vibrant and as part of his
practice he is in constant dialogue with international musicians of varied genres. Jorge is
interested in collaboration with diverse musicians and cultures, and this impacts the work of
La Descarga. “
Fiona Winning Director Programming Sydney Opera House

“La Descarga and The Electropical Orchestra bring an exquisite, colourful and exotic blend of traditional and contemporary Colombian tropical music and dance. Their performances deliver a colourful and joyous feast for eyes and ears. If you get the chance, check them out! Dancing guaranteed."

Urban Art Games, urbanartgames.com

“Melbourne-based La Descarga & the Electropical Orchestra skilfully blend traditional Colombian coastal sounds with psychedelia and dub to create something completely fresh that is both danceable and delightful. I dare you to sit still while listening to their music. It won't happen! You can’t resist to dance to the grooves of their exotic pacific and caribbean grooves”

Emma Peel, PBS FM, Reservoir Stomp

“Their recognition Australia wide in the Latinx scene, their regular full-house performances, and single releases are a testament to this evolution. They have contributed enormously to music in Multicultural Australia.”

Jill Morgan AM
Deputy Chair
Board of Directors ECCV & FECCA Associate Researcher Moondani Balluk VU Board Member
Australian Art Orchestra

"La Descarga & The Electropical Orchestra is a unique, fun, vibrant and engaging Melbourne based band characterised by the excellency of its artists and performances. La Descarga is versatile and always up to embark in new commissioned community festival projects and ideas, such as educational workshops, Caribbean inspired street and beach parades, opening performances with special twists and on-line activities, to mention a few. A performance not to be missed”

Carolina Aguilera de Snow, Ventana Frankston Festival

"La Descarga is rhythmic exchange, the convergence of cultures through music."

Samson McDougall, The Music

"La Descarga celebrates the universal history of travelling cultures, fusions and Melbourne's own mix of converging sounds and traditions."

Jess Fairfax, Easey