WOMAD

Watussi

From Australia

Founded in 2005, Watussi are an eight-piece Afrocolombian Rock and Roots outfit coming out of Bondi Beach, Sydney. They blend the musical heritage of native Colombian lead singer Oscar Jimenez with the unique energy of the Australian live music scene.
In 2008 Watussi were nominated for an ARIA award for their debut album, "Tequila Sangre y Fuego", which achieved critical acclaim both in Australia and overseas. So much so that when the album fell into the hands of legendary producer and former member of Roxy Music, Brian Eno, he personally selected the band for his curation of the inaugural Luminous Festival at Sydney Opera House in 2009, where the band played alongside acts such as Seun Kuti, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Battles, Ladytron and The Necks.
As well as being regular fixtures in the Australian music scene, Watussi have toured extensively on an international scale. They toured to Japan and Korea three times in 12 months during 2008/09, where they played at major cultural events including the Ulsan World Music Festival (South Korea) and the Horie Music Festival (Japan.) In the lead up to their latest Japan tour in October of 2009, Watussi's "Echale Fuego" held the No. 1 spot on Osaka's preeminent world music station FM Cocolo for two weeks.
2010 saw Watussi complete their first South American tour with great success; the band were invited to play at the celebrated 4-yearly Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro in Bogota, Colombia, where they were the first Australian act ever to perform. After a fantastic reception in areas throughout Peru and Colombia, Watussi are soon to return to the continent for invitations to perform in Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile.
So far in 2011, the band have toured nationally with Santana and have just released their "1000% Handsome EP", which was recorded and produced by luminary Brooklyn producer, Joel Hamilton. Joel's work with Damon Dash and the Black Keys on the recent "BlakRoc" record, as well as with artists like Tom Waits, Matisyahu, Elvis Costello, Marc Ribot and Talib Kweli, has made him one of the most versatile and sought-after producers in New York.

(Biography supplied by WOMAD New Zealand 2012)

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