The Fanko group is the product of the musical connection of 3 Mexican talents: Jaffo Lara (voice), Tibu Santillanes (sax) and Chemin Santillanes (trumpet); a trio that has created a authentic sound whose fundamental base is funk, but always in combination with romantic sounds, reggae, Mexican and world musicand now they are premiering their new album “Diamonds and Dragons” (2023), which will be released before the end of the year and from which three singles that were released publicly on February 14 come off.
Fanko was formed 7 years ago, with the mission of creating and sharing songs made in the vibration of love and with a connection for more than 25 years between its members, recalls Tibu: “Life gives us the opportunity to share this new music that has us as excited as the first time”.
music that excites
With unrestricted support from the Guanamor Music label, they share three songs under the production of Dan Solo: “Corazón” (of which they already have a video in circulation), “Cuento” and “I already decided to stay”; three melodies with a regional Mexican, mystical and electronic touch, which give a twist to the traditional production of the band.
According to Tibu Santillanes, this 2022 went very well for them, “we don’t complain; This project is seven years old and has gone through some changes; the band grew and developed and reproduced, but now I feel like we’re in a powerful moment, connecting and making music that we’re excited about.”
A triple throw
One of the most beautiful parts of art is being able to share the fruits of creation with viewers. An example of the above is explained by Jaffo Lara, who enjoys “feedback” with his audience: “I like that they get excited about my way of being, which has to do with who we are and our songs. Fanko’s mission is to inspire, people also listen with their eyes and we have music for them; the response has been fabulous and we put everything to music”.
This dynamic and joyful concept of Fanko is now being transformed, Tibu Santillanes tells us, “because just we released three songs, which in itself is not normal; and they come more in the romantic and calm, is not so energetic, dynamic and colorful, all that was Fanko’s hallmark. Now we went to the roots, more inward, the mystical and love, something different that is already beginning to have a response from people”.
This triad of songs was “the spearhead”, establishes the saxophonist, to “start from scratch, to see how this ship called ‘Diamonds and Dragons’ took off, warming up the engines”; so, the musician explains, “they are songs that have a calmer rhythm, more like waltzes, with a very Mexican essence, and electronic sounds.”
letter to the universe
The motivation, Lara details, of these three songs “is that Fanko, from the beginning, always had the objective of connecting with our interior, having a reflection and that the songs project what we want to feel, that people feel too; and we start from the words, which are magical and powerful, build and destroy —we build—, so that each song is a letter to the universe”.
In this way, the first song, “Corazón” is “an invitation to introspection”, establishes Lara, “then comes ‘Cuento’, where we write to the woman we want to find, and we succeed. The third, ‘I already decided to stay’, talks about that connection where we align ourselves with sacred geometry, love for the family, the tribe, the band”.
absolute connection
Fanko’s most recent album is essentially “an entire concept”, explains Santillanes: “The songs have to do with each other, there is a sequence. AND we throw three because they symbolize the basic trio in the group, in addition to the fact that we were a bit on a break, but we said that we would do it differently because, in the end, there is no certain formula. We let go and did what we wanted, and I think it is more consistent with who we are as Fanko”.
With a view to appearing next month and with promotion on networks and platforms of his three new songs, Fanko —says Lara— has the support of his label, “we were the first group that signed with Guanamor Musicand its purpose is to support the artist as much as possible, without costumes, to support our ideas, and it’s wonderful because we have what we need”.
EP with the band’s most recent singles: “Corazón”, “Cuento” and “I already decided to stay”. COURTESY
Sound
The albums that the band has released
Fantastic: Casa Mexicana (2016)
Back to the Future (Another Future) (2018)
Turn on the light / Groovy World (2018)
Fanko & Friends (live) (2020)
Funky Liberation (2021)
diamonds and dragons (2023)
CT
Themes
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