Okan sparks hearts with afro-cuban anthem "PumPum"

Okan has proven that music is soul, culture, fire, and with "Pumpum," they seem to just keep winning JUNO gold. Drawing its name from the word for "heart" or "soul" in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería, it pulsates with life, catapulting you into a dynamic collaboration of culture and creativity.

A duo of co-leaders, musicians, and multi-instrumentalists, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne, have spent a great deal of their formative years pushing urban canvases to the limit. Here are two high-profile women who are changing the conversation in a musical setting and genres that have long been dominated by men. The artistry that they bring to the moment transcends performance, and it is a declaration of representation, pride, and creative push against conventional linesarchs

The opening notes of "Pumpum" immediately captivate with a hypnotic blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and a worldwide sound. The beats are crafted in percussion, composed strongly either stacked or meticulously layered, and melodic elements that fluently wander through jazz, folk, and classical branches. This mix is crafted through a logical and neat intermingling of cultures, rather than a clashing fusion of styles.

It is filled with passionate singing, where Okan soars through more than just the notes on the page, and they dive into the melodies and into the feelings that are curled up like a fetus in its womb of tradition. Rodriguez and Savigne are confident and in sync with the harmony, where their instrumentals begin to shimmer with soulful elegance. An art of classical training is interlaced with the vivacious spirit of folkloric beats, creating lush and deeply human sounds.

"Pumpum" seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. It honors the celebration of life and spirits put to rest, as dance in the rain and long-lost messages from space are echoed back to them. It holds onto Afro-Cuban traditions and worships global influences. Combining the beats of Havana with the rest of the world sounds like this.

Not only in terms of technical prowess, but there is clearly some joy and abandon here in this tune. It pulses with the beats, and the phrases echo more naturally with the crowd. It's the type of song you feel with your inner animal and continue to dance along in your head as it fades out. And while "Pumpum" finds Okan making music, they're also upholding tradition, challenging expectations, and reveling in the myriad upsides of musical fusion. Nevertheless, this powerful piece fully lives up to its title in capturing the essence of Afro-Cuban invention on a worldwide scale.

Follow Okan on Spotify