Papa Changó will make us dance to the rhythm of the boom boom of his ‘Santa Calavera’ in the renovated San Gabriel theater in Quito

True to its ‘party music’ sound, Papa Chango will make his fans stomp this friday march 18 at renovated San Gabriel theater in Quito when he plays his latest song live Santa Skull (boom boom)a lively anthem that wants to help “revitalize” us after the dark months brought by the pandemic.

“We were inspired by that cool idea you have Mexico with the Day of the Deadthat the dead return and, although some want to scare us, others can also make us happy”, illustrates Milton Morabetter known as Ekeko and bassist of the Quito group.

“Our idea is that a skull bumps into you and fills you with energy, with something that you are missing because of the stress from the pandemic, from society, from work. We wanted the song to reflect that idea that there is something that revitalizes you again in this time of resilience and recovery, in which we all have to rejoice after so much sadness, so much suffering. It’s time to start lifting your spirits”, Ekeko proposes.

Certainly, the pandemic represented all kinds of obstacles for musicians due to restrictions on gatherings to create or to spread their creations in person. “It’s been two pretty hard years for everyone,” he says. Jeff Aranda (trumpet and trombone). “But we kept working, always focused on this going to happen and getting back to normal. We keep meeting as much as possible, we try to make it virtual. When there was already how, we met to rehearse and always keeping in mind that we have to generate something new”.

Those who follow the musicians will also have followed their podcast where each shared their hobbies in addition to music. For example, Jeff exhibited his culinary skills. They also premiered in TikTok where they are currently very active, like many who opened their profiles on that social network after confinement. In Mora’s words: “Many people had kept that desire to show themselves in a little video, TikTok gave them the perfect tool and well, I think that as artists it is a necessity.”

This time left them a learning that will be reflected in his new compositions in the medium term. “The nature of the pandemic and crises in general make human beings have a special sensitivity… the response to these crises is always the arts, entertainment, occupying the mind with healthy and healthy things and one of those is the music”, complements Andres Granda (Chesko), in charge of drums and percussion. “I feel that it will not only happen to Papá Changó, but to musicians in general. This stage of the story will make the creations more heartfelt, more sincere”.

“A lot of the subsequent production is going to have to do with recover our spirits in general to be able to structure a new reality. To start producing cooler music, causing smiles”, adds Ekeko.

This is the spirit with which the public will meet again this Friday, although some have already been able to enjoy it in their first post-pandemic presentations since November, as in Azogues, Cuenca, Riobamba and Quito, when their independence festivities were celebrated in December. “We have been the last sector to reactivate ourselves, the last to return to work after 2 years… Getting up on a stage and feeling that energy, when people applaud and sing your songs, jumping, moving, dancing, which was not the same thing that happened with concerts in streaming”.

Papa Chango’s concert Skulls and monkeys, is part of the inauguration program of San Gabriel, which was opened earlier this month. The cost is $12 and $15. “It is a pleasure to be part of the opening program of this historic theater, which is over 50 years old and has just been rehabilitated to make it functional for the art of culture,” says Andrés Granda.

“I went to the inauguration when it was Sergio Sacoto and it was incredible, the theater full, sold out, with 60% capacity. People who are happy to return to the theater, to meet music again, and even more so if you like an artist, support him”, points out Chesko, who promises that the tour will be extended to other cities in the mountains, the east and, of course, the coast. “At least 10, 12, cities so far this year.”