>> From the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. >> Daniel Sheehy: I'm Daniel Sheehy. I'm a curator emeritus of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. And I am pleased to be her with the founding members of [foreign language] who are based in New York City. And just performed a wonderful concert at the Library of Congress where we are right now. And so just like to welcome. >> Thank you. >> Daniel Sheehy: The founding members. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you [foreign language]. >> Daniel Sheehy: We have Morris Conjate [phonetic]. We have Ronald Pollo. And we have Johanna Castaneja [phonetic] right here with us so. Maybe we could start a. [Foreign Language] [ Laughter ] [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Johanna. >> [foreign language] Sure. Of course. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah, go ahead. >> Well. >> Daniel Sheehy: Tell us about yourself. Maybe -- can you -- when you introduce yourself reach deep inside and kind of explain who you really are and what brought you to this, this group and music. >> Of course. Of course. Well I mean as, as you mentioned I am Johanna. I was born in Bogota Columbia. I have been in the States for the last 27 years. And came with my brother here you know with a dream of, of continuing what we were already doing in Columbia, back in Columbia. Music. So it's been 27 years as of you know studying, going to school, learning a lot about not only our own Columbian music but also other music's that we've done here so far. So I've been in a lot of bands. I've been singing, playing every kinds of and types of music you know from Mexican music to Peruvian music to Salsa, Puerto Rican yeah to everything and always trying to maintain my Columbian music. Also when I arrived to the States I, I, I, I was a singer of [foreign language] you know Africa -- I'm sorry. Venezuelan and Columbian music. And that's all I knew how to sing. And. >> Daniel Sheehy: That's from the planes that [foreign language]. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Planes that, that overlaps both the. >> Yep. >> Daniel Sheehy: Venezuela. >> Exactly. >> Daniel Sheehy: And Columbia >> It's a region that we share with Venezuela and the music that I, I concentrated most of my life was from the, from this region you know. Although I'm from Bogota I learn how to dance [foreign language] since I was very young. And I learned how to play some [foreign language]. And I learned how to sing some [foreign language]. So I did that for, for a long time until I arrived to the States and then with such a diversity of all this cultures and all this mixture of everything, I fell in love with a lot of things but also wanted to learn more about my own country believe it or not. Is when you depart your country is when you realize that you know that maybe you should have paid more attention to your own music and styles and regions and all that. So that's when I met this guys maybe another 18 years ago we met through a band. And we were doing some Columbian music and you know they taught me this music from the region that they are because I'm from, from Bogota. They're from the Caribbean the north coast. So I've learned with this guys all this music and I fell in love and I loved it as you know. And since then we've been you know part -- basically they've already had that idea of revolu [phonetic]. And they show me really what to do and, and I've been with them for the last 10 years now. >> Daniel Sheehy: And Ronald Cenetes [phonetic] who are you Ronald? >> Okay. [ Foreign Language ] >> Columbia. [ Foreign Language ] >> Columbia. >> Daniel Sheehy: if I remember correctly that festival in [foreign language] declared it to be a treasure of. >> Uh-huh. >> A treasure. >> Daniel Sheehy: A cultural treasure of. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Humanities. >> They did. >> Yes they did. >> A few years back yeah. >> That was like a [inaudible]. >> Restinle [phonetic]. A few years back. >> That was a few years ago, yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: It's a beautiful thing. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Daniel Sheehy: And you're part of that. >> Of course, yeah. Remember that. Remember from the. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. Yes. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Great to have you here with us. [ Foreign Language ] >> Columbia. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Recognize the, the Palence [phonetic] community as again a treasure of. >> Yep. [ Foreign Language ] >> America. >> Daniel Sheehy: Right. Right. The first free [foreign language] descendant of community in. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: All of Americas. Yeah. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Is that recent? [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Did the Columbian Culture Administry have anything to do with that? [ foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: For example or. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Okay. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. [ foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: So the truth is we are here with cultural royalty. Who've been recognized. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: At a world level here in terms of the traditions represented right here on these three chairs. So, so it's a, it's an honor to be with you. >> Thank you. Oh my God it's an honor to be here. >> Daniel Sheehy: So let me ask you, let's get, get into the -- your music a little bit. How, how does this background, how did what you bring to this? Your family background your [foreign language] background, you, your Columbia and, and eager to learn all kinds of traditional background. How does that come out in the music of [foreign language]? >> I, I mean from my part I'm going, I'm going to say you know it just really it just really represents you know our roots. This music that we do that definitely represents a lot of what Columbia is. I mean if you see [foreign language] we have different regions basically within the same group you know. Not only that we also do share this stage with also now that we're in the States we share the stage with people from other countries too like from Mexico. We have some people from here the States play Columbian music. So it's, it's you know for us it's a privilege to be able to have other cultures involved within our culture. And that they're willing to also learn and, and, and take that step of, of learning our culture, our rhythms and play the music with us. So you know we express definitely everything that we brought from Columbia. Again I mentioned before that once you're away from your country is when you're really want to learn more and start doing the research of everything that Columbia has to offer because we want to be the ones taking this message to the world of saying this is what we have. This is the music that we have. This is our instruments. This is the Afra-descendants you know all this regions that we want to share with you so. You know that would be from my, my side. >> Daniel Sheehy: So I notice both times that you said when you leave your country you realize how much you didn't learn that you want to learn and you go for -- both times you said that Ronald was nodding his head. >> Yeah. [ Multiple Speakers ] [ Foreign Language ] >> I remember when the -- my first time come to, to United State you know I see so many culture so many culture together like Puerto Rican, Cuban. You know every, every other culture Mexicans and everything. But I don't see anything like Columbia. Like I say this is a I can say this group is like Columbian traditional music. I don't see that. So that was more my I say I'm effort. >> Effort. >> Effort to, to say like. >> We need to do. >> I got to, I got to do the band. I got to make a band that has Columbian flavor there. >> That represents. >> Represent. >> Yeah, Columbia. >> Columbia. And, and that and, and because I know the regions. I know how every did for long time ago. We play you know all the time in Columbia. I said is it the time? Is it the time to make new music? Is it time to make [foreign language] for, for Columbia for [inaudible] and bring to here to, to United States and play with other people to no Columbia. >> Not only Columbia. >> Columbia. Play with everybody. So that, that's my [inaudible] more my -- how do you say [inaudible]? My -- me. >> Inspiration. [ Foreign Language ] >> Right away as soon as you go through Columbia you're going to smell that. The flowers. And you're going to say wow. It's true. It's so different. >> You're going to say why didn't I smell that? >> Yeah. You know why don't, why don't pay attention to it before? So I. [ Foreign Language ] >> We try to teach everybody about Columbian music and show you know the tradition the and everything. [ Foreign Language ] >> One day we're going to do a Wayawa [phonetic] tree. >> Tree. >> Here. [ Laughter ] [ foreign Language ] >> Welcome to. [ Foreign Language ] >> Columbia. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Like scrambled eggs. [ Laughter ] [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. [ Foreign Language ] >> Sounds good. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah, that's a good name. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: And it's close enough to revolution that you get into that if you want to. [ Multiple Speakers ] [ Foreign Language ] >> No, they, they say oh why is that revolu -- revolution. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. >> Why is on revolution. But you can say revolu. >> Revolution. >> Revolution. [foreign language] if you want to call it that. >> Revolu [phonetic] is more a lot of stuff together. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. Yeah. So, so, [inaudible] so, do you borrow from other [foreign language] tradition from Columbia like from the pacific or from [foreign language] even, which is? [ Foreign Language ] >> We have, we, we, we did one, one grado [phonetic] from the pacific called [foreign language]. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> And it's [inaudible] like really like we will meet up very good friend in New York called Diego Ragone [phonetic] and he teach us to all those kind of rade -- [foreign language] and, and other but for Revolu [phonetic] we only use [foreign language]. >> That, that's the only one that we use from the pacific yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: And [foreign language] it mean from the, from [foreign language]. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> From the region. Yeah. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Like states. >> Yeah. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah, for that whole pacific thing. But you all from the north. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> The Caribbean. >> Daniel Sheehy: The Caribbean [inaudible] at any rate. So can you tell us a little bit -- talking -- let's, let's maybe hone in on some of the, the details here. What's that and what's that and what's that? Can you talk to us about that? >> So that one is our [foreign language] you know. And it's a I mean that one is basically it maintains obviously a rhythm but it's also used for a lot of improvisation. It's probably going to be the loudest one you know it's the happy drum. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yes. >> If you translate it you know [foreign language] is the happy drum because it's happy the whole time you know as it's always improvising. And then we move to the [foreign language] which you some other countries do share same [foreign language] you know maybe -- made differently but played the same way with sticks. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> And this basically. >> Daniel Sheehy: Sideways like? >> Yeah, yeah. Sideways. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> You play sideways. And it's, it's going to be basically our base you know. It's going to do that base sound you know on the music. And then usually this is smaller version of that a very tiny one. It's called [foreign language] you know which is usually the, the three instruments will create the Afro-Columbian percussion session. >> Daniel Sheehy: [foreign language] means calling. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Because it's always calling a beat basically. So [foreign language] is only maintaining one beat the whole time throughout any rhythms you know. And then we have the [foreign language] you know which this is the [foreign language] which is the female right? >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. >> This usually a male version. Just the difference is that it would have only two, two holes to cover. This one keeps the whole melody throughout the songs. The other one will just hold long notes throughout. >> The base. >> The songs and also yeah. It creates support. So this [foreign language] is very interesting because this body part is made out of a cactus tree. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> The inside of the cactus. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Right. Yeah. >> And then the, the, the head part is bee wax with charcoal mixed in and kind of mold into this head. And then usually the mouthpiece is a, a, duck feather so. >> Daniel Sheehy: I don't know if this may -- just for me this maybe one of the most easily identifiable instruments in the world. The style of playing and the sound of. >> And the sound. >> Daniel Sheehy: These. Yeah when you hear that you don't think Venezuela you don't, you don't. >> Right. >> Daniel Sheehy: You don't think Peru. You don't think. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Canada you know. You think Columbia. >> Columbia yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah that's [inaudible]. >> Daniel Sheehy: Can, can we just hear a little bit of? Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Something's that called [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. [ Music ] [ Laughter ] [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Is that your [foreign language] are? [ Foreign Language ] >> That's right. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> It's one of the first songs I learned on the flute yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: [foreign language] that was in the, the Cultural Education Program, is that what? >> It, is, is yeah. Lot of schools have that kind. This song this one with song everybody teach. >> You learn the, the, the [foreign language] at the school. >> I learn with my, my -- I remember my teacher he teach me a little. In those days they don't have any schools like now. >> Yeah. >> For now like now. >> Yeah. >> Now is different. So now they are more schools and -- but in those days my teacher only teach me the positions and, and, and basically say okay now you need to made some use. >> Yeah. >> So I just started you know. I start learn the songs of the [foreign language]. I got to, I got to take this song out. I got to made it. You know that's how I, I learn the [foreign language]. Now I make my own songs with the [foreign language]. That what I try to. >> Daniel Sheehy: So this was the 1990's? When were you learning? When was this? >> That was in 19 7? >> Daniel Sheehy: 2000? >> Yeah, no. 1987, 88 something like that. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: 87 yeah. So [foreign language]. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> [foreign language] have been around for a long time. [ foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. >> My father's time. >> [inaudible] time yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Did you -- sorry? [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: What you? Or what would that be? I don't know. [ Foreign Language ] >> No. No. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. >> [inaudible] like a native. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. Yeah. So, so you took this instrument? How -- did you -- I meant to ask. What is the most famous group that? Is there a group that is the role model the -- you mentioned the. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. Yeah. [ Foreign Language ] >> They are you know, they are the I say the first one. Right? >> Yeah. >> Like the most promote Columbia guida [phonetic] music around everywhere. They everywhere. They also win the Grammy or something. >> Daniel Sheehy: As I recall their Folkways CD that you. >> Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: [foreign language] produced won a Latin Grammy. >> Ah. Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: And they brought up [foreign language] from Columbia to open the Latin Grammy's. >> Yes I remember. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> I watched that. >> I remember. >> I remember. Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: That was really cool. >> It was. Amazing. Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: So a -- let -- do [foreign language] here. What, what -- can you explain what, what do you put into it in terms of rhythms or singing? You, you -- from your point of view into the music? Into the music of [foreign language] of what you have here? Is it drumming or singing or whatever it might be? [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: I heard melodies the center of Columbia like little turns of melodies like even the one with. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Just little turns of melodies that sound very Columbian to me. It didn't sound Mexican. It didn't sound. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: You know whatever -- sound like. Of course when you're on stage, your motions there are a lot of moves that are, that are that you could say ah that's Columbian, right? Am I right about that? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Of course. Yeah. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. And then of course the, the instruments, the rhythms the genres and all that so, so, so really your music just filled with Columbian -- just about everything. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Daniel Sheehy: It just comes out every, every, every turn. Every. >> Yeah. No. For sure it's, it's Columbian. This is I mean that's, that's the message we want to. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. >> You know take across that this is Columbian music you know. Although we have other people that play that are not Columbian or they're putting maybe there input. We want to focus the, the traditional rhythms and want to explain what we're playing and you know. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> So they know we're playing a [foreign language] or we're playing a [foreign language] what this instrument is. So yes it's -- that's what we want. We want. >> Daniel Sheehy: And the creative process who, who -- are you three the leaders? How does that work? >> The, the creative I mean -- it's going to be funny. And it's going to sound funny you know how I'm going to say this because. >> Daniel Sheehy: Okay. Good. >> Ronald and I we're actually husband and wife and we share you know our life together. So not only the musically but at home we have two little girls you know. We have a whole life together. So a lot of the creation it's basically me cooking in the kitchen and right next to the kitchen he has his little studio, home studio. >> That's the best spot, the best spot. >> Where he sits. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> So basically I'm in the stove you know warming or cooking and he's playing something. And he's telling me so what do you think of this. And I'm like cooking. And I might go yeah that's sounds oh no that one is wrong. No I don't think you know we're basically back and forth. And a lot of the creation part of the starting of, of a song a new song, goes basically like that. So you know he definitely the main person that has the inspiration. He comes home every day with new songs. I have to say if anything he has five more CD's that we can record today if we want to because he has a lot of inspiration you know through our live, through his daily routine, through, through his family. >> Through my friends. My friends. >> Friends. I mean he has a lot of inspiration and he has a huge talent and he you know the thing that God gave him. And he comes up with songs all the time so. >> Daniel Sheehy: When he said he has a studio right next to where you're cooking I know he was a wise man. [ Laughter ] >> Daniel Sheehy: And a smart husband. >> Right? He did that for a purpose. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yes. Do you have other? >> Smells so good inspiring like right away. >> He gets inspired by the smell. >> Daniel Sheehy: Do you have other lives other than music? >> Yes. >> Daniel Sheehy: I mean parents. >> Yes. Parenting is one. And I mean music is a, is a tough business to survive on you know. It's -- we. >> Especially in New York. >> Especially in a, in a city like New York where every day is more expensive to live. So you know musician's life in New York is a tough one. It's a very tough. So we have to help ourselves through other things. So we do have other jobs. We, we do have them part time. We are not 100% because this is what really we want to do this 100%. We want to do it full time. And so we, we made that choice that we want to just work a tiny bit just to support our family. And support ourselves in this big expensive city. But music is what we want to do. You know I mean. >> Daniel Sheehy: Yeah. >> every time we come to a concert, every time we take a trip and we go back home is when we really realize that we should really be doing music 100% because it's what we really enjoy and love doing. So we, we keep working everyday to get this band and this music more to other cities, other countries and we want to get this music across and we want to be able to live 100% from this from something that we really, really enjoy. >> Daniel Sheehy: Is that the, [foreign language]? >> Yeah. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Who, who is your audience? Who are, who are the people that, that you? >> That's very, very interesting because we had [inaudible]. >> Yeah. >> Columbia and we got people from United States. >> States. Yeah. >> People from even from, from one of the guys from Armenia? Armenia something like that? >> We have a lot of followers. >> That's funny because. >> Daniel Sheehy: Armenia? >> Armenia. >> Armenia and they follow us everywhere where we go. >> Daniel Sheehy: Is that right? >> Yeah. >> They say we love you guys. We love you guys. Do you understand what we say> no but I don't care. I love your music. [ Multiple Speakers ] >> I think we had any type of audience you know this music we love to interact with people. And we want to get everyone dancing. Everyone singing. Even if they don't know. We roughly go quickly what we're doing so they know and a you know. Again our main focus here is to get across anything. And it doesn't matter if you're not Columbian. We just want to get the music out. >> Daniel Sheehy: You know I this is just my impression. So. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: That there's a certain internal piece there that you have that allows you to be creative. And I kept thinking about values. I just wonder if do you ever talk about values about [foreign language]? Is there something that you feel like you share there at least the three of you? I know sometimes you have to call musicians to come in and they do their job and all that. But you know do you have like a mission in your mind or a set of values for the [foreign language]? >> Oh well. [ Foreign Language ] >> Uh-huh. [ Foreign Language ] >> Yeah. I think, I think it definitely the values we express in, in how we are trying to stay together as a family, as friends, as you know musicians trying to get this band together. And it comes from our backgrounds you know, our families. You know our -- that we definitely, we're taught what a family is, what your roots are who you are you know. Where you're coming from and just to get this and do your best to get this out there. >> Daniel Sheehy: Uh-huh. >> So I think values are definitely a number one in, in us. And you know I think we have great, great ones from where we're coming from great families that taught us great things. [ Foreign Language ] >> Uh-huh. [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Manhattan . Or Brooklyn or. >> Queens. >> Queens. >> Daniel Sheehy: Queens. In Queens. [ Foreign Language ] >> New Jersey. >> In New Jersey. [ Foreign Language ] >> In Manhattan in Brooklyn, Bronx. [ Foreign Language ] >> In New Jersey. >> In New Jersey. [ Foreign Language ] >> On Facebook. >> Daniel Sheehy: Facebook. >> And Twitter and Instagram and You tube. And. [ Foreign Language ] >> Uh-huh. Your Grammy. >> Ah. [ Laughter ] [ Foreign Language ] >> Daniel Sheehy: Thank you all for listening to this interview with three wonderful individuals. I say wonderful because they're wonderful musicians and wonderful human beings. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Daniel Sheehy: With a deep sense of purpose. I was very, very impressed it comes off loud and clear. And, and on behalf of anyone else out in our viewing audience, thank you so much for what you do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys for bringing us here. >> Daniel Sheehy: Which legacy to, to be part of not only this countries culture but the worlds culture. >> Yeah. Thank you. [ Foreign Language ] >> This has been a presentation of the Library of Congress. Visit us at loc.gov.