Integrating cumbia, hip-hop and afrobeats into a sound that conveys a powerful message and still makes you want to dance is a mighty task. But Debajito is ready for the challenge.
The Chico-based band is only a week away from releasing their upcoming EP titled “Entremundos” (Between Worlds).
Lead Vocalist Pablo Kee-Cornejo said the group aspires to be known as a band that defies boundaries and crosses cultures.
“We like to call ourselves a borderless band, we make borderless music so música sin fronteras (music without borders),” Kee Cornejo said.
The band's name, Debajito, is a smaller iteration of their original family band, Debajo del Agua, which means on the down low or something that’s secret.
“The personal is political. Everything that we do in the world is political. Simply being a brown person in the U.S. at this moment has become political. Existing between worlds, navigating borders is a political act. Even speaking out on this radio station is a political act.”— Dani Cornejo, percussion and vocals
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the band has been pushing their fresh sound and performing around the North State.
“It's music that's meant to make you move physically, but also meant to make you think as well,” Kee Cornejo said.
This month saw the release of their lead single, "Frontera" (The Border). The track, which incorporates Andean instruments, delves into themes of migration, cultural identity and social justice.
“We're not only talking about geographical, but we're talking about something deeper within ourselves and our hearts, that doesn't allow us to connect [to] other human beings and humanize each other on that human level,” Kee Cornejo said.
The song conveys a message of solidarity, with lyrics that call for dismantling the divisions — the borders — that keep us apart.
For the band, sharing a message of unity is essential, they say especially in today’s political climate.
Dani Cornejo, who contributes percussion and vocals, says the line between the personal and political doesn’t really exist. As a result, their music naturally reflects their history, identity and political views.
“I think that that influenced us to speak out on the importance of democracy, especially when we see inklings of what appears to be rising fascism. And so it's important to speak out as we see.”— Pablo Kee Cornejo, guitar & lead vocalist
“The personal is political. Everything that we do in the world is political. Simply being a brown person in the U.S. at this moment has become political,” Cornejo said. “Existing between worlds, navigating borders is a political act. Even speaking out on this radio station is a political act.”
Their father immigrated from Chile, fleeing an 18-year military dictatorship. They were raised on stories of a U.S.-backed coup, which uprooted their family and became a cornerstone of their migration narrative.
“I think that that influenced us to speak out on the importance of democracy, especially when we see inklings of what appears to be rising fascism,” Kee Cornejo said. “And so it's important to speak out as we see.”
“Entremundos” features five new songs that explore a range of themes, especially about the complexities of the Latino experience in the U.S.
It addresses the realities of ICE raids in Los Angeles, the detention of people without due process, and racial profiling of people of color.
Many parts of the album explore these concerns, while also celebrating dance, happiness and cultural richness within these communities. Ultimately, the album signifies living between distinct realities.
“Our album is multilingual, and we play with that notion of being in between worlds,” Cornejo said. “Both in terms of language, in terms of genre, in terms of topic and experience.”
The project was completed in collaboration with Chico State students, then mixed and mastered through their Recording Arts program.
The band expressed deep gratitude for the chance to record the new songs with the students.
“They were incredibly professional, incredibly collegial,” Cornejo said. “They did an amazing job in mixing and really taking our notes and capturing the sound.”
“Entremundos” is scheduled for release on Aug. 5.
