The album features an array of impeccable artists from the music scene; British artist and producer Emanative, Congolese guitarist and former member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80, Kiala Nzavotunga, and with production by Malcolm Catto of The Heliocentrics, frequent collaborator with Madlib and Quantic, as well as Yann Jankielewicz former musical director of Tony Allen’s band.
Born in Venezuela, Monsalve – who cut his teeth playing post-rock, free-funk, Afro-Venezuelan and Latin music in Caracas – made it his mission to explore the complex heritage of his homeland and learned percussion mastery in the barrio of Sarria in Caracas.
He then moved to London, exploring the English scene armed with his Fender Precision. Close to The Heliocentrics family, he became bassist on The Heliocentrics & Orlando Julius tour.
Raul moved to Paris in 2015. He recreated his own entity Raul Monsalve y los Forajidos with musician friends from the Venezuelan and Colombian communities, juggling electric instruments and traditional percussion in their feverish performances. They include Venezuelan singer Ly Bonilla, Edgar Bonilla on synthesizers, Andrés Vela on saxophone and Mario Orsinet on drums.
