New Latinx release from Colombian Canadian Beny Esguerra & New Tradition Music

Northside Kuisi is a carefully-woven song cycle of 12 compositions that collectively chronicle the discoveries of an archeological dig taking place in the distant future, where traditional instruments — from the Southern and Northern hemispheres —an-Indigenous hand drum — alongside a vinyl disc containing encrypted information from the past (circa 2021AD), are unearthed and interpreted by a news team speaking an imagined creole of Anishinaabemowin, Lengua-Palenquera, Spanish and English languages.
Inspired by the ancient prophecy of the Condor and the Eagle – which foretells of the reunification of nations across Turtle Island/Abya Yala – Colombian-born, Mestizo multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Beny Esguerra enlists artists from across the North and South to collaborate on his compositions that also create bridges across diverse musical genres (also from the North and South) with instruments such as the kuisi bunsi (Indigenous-Colombian flute), the hand drum (Turtle Island) and the turntables (Bronx, NY).
The album features an extensive list of Latinx and Indigenous special guests including Raven Kanatakta, Silla, Mahlikah Awe:ri, Nimkii Osewamik, Leang Manjarres Wong, DJ Grouch, DJ Classic Roots, Steve Sanchez, Mat Stevens, Orlando 'Chato', DJ Chino, Artson, Jotaika Bops Atta, Jonny Vibes, Nathan Baya, Tracey Kayy, Larry Blu, Zakisha Brown, Louwop (Los Poetas), Mc McWatch, J-Wize (Se7ens), Mama Rudegyal, Hope, Che Uno and Rod Starz (Rebel Diaz). 
With arrangements by producer Luis Orbegoso who also provides, backing vocals, percussion and trombones, the album features core New Tradition Music group members Paul ‘Savilion’ De Francesco (beat making), Juan ‘Siez Swift’ Esguerra (turntables), Adam Solomon (electric guitar), Jonathan ‘Alacran’ Amador (electric bass) and Ernesto Espinoza (violin).
Incorporating hip hop elements such as beatboxing, emceeing/spoken-word and turntablism with Colombian Afro-Indigenous música-de-gaita, champeta and modern cumbia, Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music will follow up on their JUNO-nominated A New Tradition Vol. 2: Return of the Kuisi to deliver an urgent call for justice, environmental healing, and respect for ancestors and land treaties. 
The album reflects Esguerra's experiences as a child who arrived with his political activist parents as refugees to Canada from Colombia. The compositions explore issues such as the mass exodus from South to North, environmental degradation, the celebration of instruments and traditions, global indignation to systemic racism and oppression, and the need for community collaboration and healing. 
‘Northside Kuisi strives to create a dialogue between past, present and future while imagining a future where Latinx and Indigenous descendants, languages and traditions thrive" -- Beny Esguerra
Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra is also an arts educator, community worker and Ph.D. (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology (specializing in traditional and urban music). Recipient of the 2020 Ontario Arts Foundation’s Arts Educator Award, he is currently the music director of several community music education programs based in Toronto’s Jane-Finch neighbourhood. The album was created with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.
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