PRODUCTIONS

 In 2017 Bomba Estereo, working mostly in the urban environments of Bogota and Los Angeles wanted to reconnect with nature and explore the spiritual roots of their music in a more natural setting. They approached Christian about spending some time at his studio in La Sierra to explore and organize these new ideas. A natural collaborative spirit of creativity emerged, resulting in their first single "Duele". A psychedelic and bass heavy track about heartbreak as manifest through a surrealist lens. In addition to “Duele”, Christian produced four other tracks on Bomba’s Grammy nominated album “Ayo” released later that year. Followed by a collaborative remix and remake of The Arcade Fires hit song “Everything now” with Bomba Estereo and Arcade Fire featuring Los Gaiteros de Ovejas.  Take a listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6oxQ2tiIXtydhEOIFJiYqC?si=f6dd59eda5984ec9 

Los Gaiteros de Ovejas represent the deepest roots of what is surely one of Colombias most beautiful musical contributions to the world, that is Cumbia. Traditional to the core, this music is played on “Tambores y Gaita” with the Gaita being the large traditional indigenous flutes that are the same as the ones played for millennia in La Sierra. This music is a fusion of Indigenous melodies and maracas with the Afro Colombia traditions of Palenque and the Montes de Maria region. Gaita flute player and bandleader Henri Ortiz is also a master luthier, his traditional Colombian instruments are renowned throughout the country for their quality and tone. All of the percussion instruments and flutes you will hear on their disc Amancer were hand made by the musicians themselves especially for these recordings. You can hear them play here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Tqx6HiiO3noSQGMUnjJpb?si=4oUw1L0zTyeXBXCwkVpinw&dl_branch=1

Jacana Jacana are dedicated to teaching children about nature. Their songs weave a magical tapestry intended to give kids and adults alike the distinctive sound and feeling of wild Colombia. The music is infused with a variety of Folkloric and Indigenous musical influences from many different regions as well as a great deal of ambient sound from the very unique places and species of animals that Jacana sing about. For more than ten years as a non-profit foundation Jacana Jacana have been tirelessly holding events designed to give kids of all ages an awareness of the importance of preserving and respecting nature. Their mission continues today in Minca where they are an integral part of the community here. You can hear them here:  https://open.spotify.com/album/5rd8gm0qyUONuhljpkXtU6?si=ydV0qm2FRXCWfRce6IHoZA

Their songs, which highlight the most important icons of Santa Marta, are composed with naturalness, innovation and harmony. They advance through the shortcuts of joy and certainty.

The special flavor that their music has is that very particular sound that immediately takes us to the most intimate part of the Caribbean. And so the bolero, the cumbia, the porro and the son serve as a backdrop.

With his proposal, the Caribbean musical range will continue to expand, it will continue to travel the world, because its songs seduce, woo and liberate those who listen to them.

The trill of the bagpipes, the ringing of the drum, the strength of the voices and the beat of the drum make this an emotional and enveloping musical experience, in which dancing is inevitable and some shed tears are to be expected to the rhythm of a bullerengue, a drum or a bagpipe joint.

New Zion Trio navigates the seas of Spiritual Jazz and Mystical Paths through a Dub/ Roots Reggae lens. Featuring collaborations with legends of these genres including HR of Bad Brains, Cyro Baptista, Hamid Drake, Brad Jones, New Zion Trio explores ecstatic states of consciousness through transcendent collective musical experience. Dub mixes and treatments are expertly crafted by longtime collaborator Christian Castagno. New Zion Trio has released 4 albums including New Zion w. Cyro - "Sunshine Seas” and “Fight Against Babylon.” https://open.spotify.com/album/3lE7f2o3x0vc2dALpI1V9N?si=KmQvp-E8TkO5iN8CfXMjfg

Biomigrant is a multi-instrumentalist who uses electronica as a medium to explore themes of territory, identity, and folk music traditions.  In 2016 he worked with Chris on the mixes of ‘Aldea Mundial’, an album recorded on the road with local musicians across six Latin American countries. Michael, deeply interested to learn the his craft, took the opportunity to go deep on mixing techniques, philosophies, and the evolution of the craft, with Chris sharing a wealth of knowledge, helping Michael build foundational skills that continue to serve him as a creator and producer. You can hear it here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5H59BW8KCUmuwDMGVvuatk