Locos Por Juana

Locos por Juana
Background information
Origin	Miami, FL
Genres	Latin, Latin Alternative, Fusion, World
Labels	La Juana Productions / Rock the Moon Productions
Associated acts	Afro Kumbe
Website	www.locosporjuana.com
Members	Vocalist - Itawe Correa Guitarist - Mark Kondrat Drummer - Javier "Lakambra" Delgado Bassist - David Pransky

Locos por Juana is a GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® nominated bilingual band, most notably recognized for their high energy live performances and unique fusion of reggae, funk, cumbia, salsa, and rock. The band, featuring Itawe Correa as its charismatic lead vocalist, talented guitarist Mark Kondrat, innovative drummer Javier Delgado, and electrifying bass player David Pransky, write and produce all of their own music. Voted Best Latin Band in 2017 by Miami New Times, LPJ’s sound is a hybrid that incorporates the sounds of their heritage and upbringing. Correa and Delgado were born in Colombia, Miami native, Kondrat, is of Colombian descent and Pransky hails from Vermont. Colombian sounds such as Cumbia and Champeta, along with the Afro-Colombian rhythms, Mapale and Chande are integral to their sound, as are musical influences from Miami and the Caribbean islands including Reggae, Raggamufin, Dub, Hip-Hop, Rock and Funk; all of these influences have lead to a fusion that Kondrat has coined as "that island swing.”

Past Recordings, Releases and Media Attention

Locos por Juana released their self-titled debut in 2002 on the now-defunct Latin label Musical Productions, or MP, featuring among its track listing "Que Lo Que Esta Pasando" ("What's Happening"), "Viniendo de la Ciudad" ("Coming From the City"), "Mi Tierra" ("My Land"), "Sola" ("Single" fem.) and "Embustera" ("Liar" fem.).

Their sophomore effort, Musica Pa'l Pueblo, dropped three years later, in 2005. The album featured twelve tracks, including "Locos Por Juana Vol. I," "She's the Devil," "La Noche," "El Dia" "Colombia" and "Adoro" featuring famed Mexican singer-songwriter Armando Manzanero.

La Verdad (The Truth) in 2008 signified the group's major label debut, as they signed with an arm of Universal Music Latino, Machete Music, founded by Gustavo Lopez. The album boasted thirteen tracks of vintage Locos Por Juana with the benefit of eight years' experience under their belt. It featured songs like "Tu Sabes Muy Bien (La Nalga)" ("You Know Very Well (The Booty)"), "Prende" ("Turn On" or "Light"), "No Te Preocupes" ("Don't Worry"), "Calles de Babylon" ("Streets of Babylon") and "Calle Luna, Calle Sol" ("Moon Street, Sun Street").

Present

After their separation from Machete Music in 2009, wherein the band decided to return to their indie status, deciding that a label with mainstream focus didn't understand how to market their distinct product, Locos Por Juana was busy on the road, as always, touring through New Orlean's famed Jazz Fest, before they ventured overseas for a ten-day European summer tour, including gigs before packed houses and festivals with 30,000 people in attendance in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

In spring of 2010, the band released the aptly titled Evolucion EP, a work featuring six tracks.

Since the release of their last full-length, Somos de la Calle (We're From the Street) in 2012 under La Juana Music, the band has undergone numerous changes, including signing with Miami-based record label, Rock The Moon,^[1] lead by entrepreneur Tony Gonzalez, with whom they released the single "Mueve, Mueve" (move, move)^[2] garnering over half a million views on VEVO with a video shot in Bimini, Bahamas. Their latest single, "The Cure," a collaboration with Bermuda reggae star, Collie Buddz, recorded between Miami and Buddz' native Bermuda, was released in May, 2016.

The band recently collaborated with Zumba founder Beto Perez on the explosive dance track, “Te Quiero Ver.” The song has become a global streaming and YouTube viral phenomenon. Their sixth studio album, Caribe, released in October of 2016, debuted #14 on THE CMJ New World Chart and features stellar collaborations with the legendary rap artists Talib Kweli and El B, Notch, Elastic Bond, Rocky Dawuni, Colombian powerhouse band ChocQuibTown, Jorge Villamizar, Chad Stokes (DISPATCH), Marinah (Ojos de Brujo), Bermudian reggae star, Collie Buddz, Vaughn Benjamin (Midnite) and XAXO. LPJ released their Caribe Remix EP in December of 2017, the culmination of a stellar year that included a prime time performance on PBS during the 30th Annual Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) Awards, multiple major festivals and receipt of the 2017 American Latino Influencer Award for their work on #WeDreamAmerica.

Discography

References