Venezuelan singer, songwriter and producer Aureliano Mendez, better known to his fans as Panasuyo, represents a new wave of young musicians mixing traditional Venezuelan sounds with rock, pop, reggae and electronica. "Pana suyo" means "Your mate" in Venezuelan Spanish. Tierra Querida is taken from his debut album "Monte y Culebra" (literally, "Scrubland and Snakes"), a term some Venezuelans use quite dismissively to describe anywhere outside the big cities.
From drumming with its roots in Africa, to Spanish-influenced guitar and harp music and the indigenous contribution of maracas, Venezuelan music is largely unknown outside the country. With a blog based on videos of key groups and individuals I hope this music will reach a wider public and get the attention it deserves. Joropo, calypso, tambores, salsa, cumbia, pop, rock, Latin jazz, electronica - even slushy love songs by soap opera stars - Venezuela has it all.
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