MUSA PARADISE
Tropical Hybrid Afro Latin Funk
Musa Paradise is a Toronto-based endeavour formed in 2018 by longtime friends and musical collaborators, Jimmy Kiddo and Cesar Caballero. The duo have embarked on musical journeys together for over 30 years, participating in various projects since back-in-the-day, when they lived in their beloved hometown of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
Inspired by Cartagena’s tropical vibe, Jimmy and Cesar experimented with an array of afro-Colombian and afro-Caribbean sounds. With fusions of Latin, rock, pop and electronic influences, all of these explorations have helped define their personal identities and have become the bedrock for Musa Paradise’s musical and cultural direction.
Musa Paradise’s strong connection to the Caribbean, including countries outside of Colombia, such as Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico and the Antilles, is where the raw energy of the afro sounds originate from. Blending these influences with the powerful drive of electronic beats, some pop elements and emotive lyrical rhythms, Musa Paradise has created a tropical hybrid of afro, latin and funk.
In the vibrant and multicultural city of Toronto, Musa Paradise has seized the opportunity to collaborate with world-class musicians such as Omar Martinez (RIP), Dánae Olano, Jorge Luis Papiosco, Alexis Baro, Roberto Riverón, Yoser Rodriguez, and Marito Marques, among others. These esteemed artists have greatly contributed to the development of the Musa Paradise project, harmonizing their unique musical styles to create a captivating soundscape engaging the afro-community and well beyond. Toronto has certainly emerged as a pivotal hub where diverse influences converge, fostering the creation of the extraordinary.
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From the outset, Musa Paradise’s mission has been twofold; to nurture connections through music and to create a hybrid sound that seamlessly blends genres. Musically, they achieve this with an auditory panoramic of guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards and live percussion, as well as an array of electronic instruments such as synths, drum machines and samplers. Culturally, the duo’s unwavering passion for diversity and fearless experimentation conceive truly captivating performances, which invite audiences to passionately feel the love of Musa Paradise.
LISTEN
Musa Paradise, the genre-blurring project of Cesar and Jimmy Kiddo, returns with "Soka," a single that fuses the sun-drenched energy of Soukous guitar with the propulsive drive of house music. The release arrives alongside two companion remixes: a stripped-down dancefloor reworking of "Soka" by Alex Gentil, and a groovy deep house take on the duo's recent single "C'est ma vie."
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Built on a solid 120bpm house foundation, "Soka" layers shimmering Soukous-style guitars over live drums, stabbing synths, and a pulsing bassline, with warm horn sections adding a celebratory lift throughout. At the track's center, the bridge opens into a different world — a warm synth carries an enchanting melody that offers a moment of suspension before the groove pulls back in. Bookending the track, the intro and outro erupt with a rock/pop edge, live drums and guitars exploding into view, a reminder of the duo's roots outside the club and their instinct for songcraft over pure production.
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The release also features an exclusive remix from New York-based producer Alex Gentil, who reimagines Soka as a stripped-back, groove-driven club weapon. Focusing on hypnotic rhythms, rolling percussion, and a powerful low end, his interpretation is crafted for underground dancefloors while preserving the spirit of the original composition.
Completing the package is a brand-new remix of C'est Ma Vie, one of Musa Paradise's recent singles. Reworked into a deep, groovy house cut, the remix reinterprets key melodic and rhythmic elements of the original, delivering a warm, hypnotic version equally suited for late-night club sets and discerning listeners.
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Together, the three tracks showcase Musa Paradise's ability to bridge live musicianship with contemporary electronic production, offering a release that moves effortlessly between soulful listening and peak-time dancefloor moments.
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Jaime Smalbach (Producer, Guitars)
Cesar Caballero (Producer, Drums)
Dánae Olano (Synths, Keyboards)
Roberto Riverón (Bass)
Jorge Luis Papiosco (Percussion)
Alexis Baró (Trumpet)
Elena Kapeleris (Sax)
Yoel Becquer (Trombone)
