«Here are 5 tracks that marked my life as a producer. These are not just my favorite songs, these are musical pieces that changed my destiny. They led me to create Palenque Records and to dedicate my life to music, as a label owner but also as a dj and filmmaker.»

Son Palenque
Palengue Palengue

 
«The band Son Palenque recorded this legendary track in the early 80’s for the label Felito Records. For me this is a kind of Grail in terms of musical production, from every point of view. Their label finally closed in the early 90’s, and I have taken over with the band until today.»
 

Abelardo Carbono
Shalcarri

 
«Abelardo Carbono is another of my heroes when it comes to afrobeat influenced Colombian psychedelic afro beat. I admired him so much that when I finally met him in 2004, he then joined my label as an artist. We produced a new record together! This piece is the perfect soundtrack for a psychedelic action movie that I hope to soon be able to shoot, and it has inspired many things in my life.»
 

Sexteto Tabala
Ofelia

 
«The Sexteto Tabala was probably the first musical love of my life: I discovered one of their songs in a collection of anthropological recordings, in 1995 (though I don’t like the word “discover”, a bit too colonialist…)! I immediately fell in love with this band, which at the time was only playing at funerals, and I met them in their village, San Basilio de Palenque. We have recorded 4 albums since, and for me they figure what could be the perfect soundtrack of ‘Hundred Years Of Solitude’.»
 

Idowu Animashaun & His Lisabi International
Omo Lisabi

 
«I love Nigerian music, and especially juju, highlife, apala, fuji music…. And this band, that I admire, has released some extraordinary records. Their music is beyond words. Yoruba mystical trance!»
 

Dr. Sir Warrior & His Oriental Brothers International
Jide Nkegi

 
«Another one of my greatest heroes, Sir Warrior is the lead singer of the Oriental Brothers from Nigeria. While I also love a lot of traditional musicians from Nigeria, I have an obsession for Sir Warrior. I like the Igbo culture from which he’s from, and obviously its form of very powerful highlife. They have approached in their records something precious and raw. Igbo kwenu for real!»