Sounds Like Home: Superfónicos
Music as a Mode of Transportation
Words by Abby L. Johnson Photos by Baptiste Despois
By bringing the sounds of the Caribbean to Texas, Superfónicos creates community and connection wherever they play.
Garland, Texas, native Nico Sanchez had his musical start in the fifth grade when he picked up the cello. He wanted to play the upright bass but was deemed ‘too short.’ His disappointment was short-lived, as soon after that his parents bought him an electric bass starter kit, and he’s been growing musically ever since.
Though he gravitated towards music from a young age, in many ways, Nico’s driving force was a longing to connect to his heritage. Nico’s parents grew up in Bogota, Colombia, and for as long as he can remember, he always envisioned Colombia as a shining light where he was destined to return.
As he explains, “I always had this longing for Colombia and the culture. On a typical weekend [at my parent’s house], there would be some cumbia records playing and some salsa and good food cooking. And I just sort of always associated that…kind of magic [with Colombia].” Other than his family, his hometown didn’t have a significant Colombian community when he was growing up, spurring the growth of this desire.
“We started here, and we love Austin. We’ve seen it mutate and change sometimes for the better, sometimes not for the better. So it’s cool that there are still places like Sahara Lounge around that kind of represent that down-home Austin vibe.”
Nico Sanchez
In 2007, Nico moved to Austin and landed a job at Waterloo Records while simultaneously working on his musical projects. It was nearly a decade later that Superfónicos was born. Initially, “A few of the guys in the band and I were playing in other groups, but we wanted to put together a group that was based in Afro-Colombian rhythms,” Nico explains. But something was missing in their lineup. They needed someone who had the opportunity to train amongst traditional Colombian musicians. When Jaime Ospina moved to Austin in 2016, it was like the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. The Colombian native brought with him not only expansive vocals and firsthand knowledge of the sounds of Colombia but also a skill that few others in Texas have. Jaime plays the gaita, a type of Colombian flute. With the final member of the Superfónicos lineup in place, the group got to work creating the unique sound they describe as “Afro-Colombian funk.”
“Afro-Colombian funk is the name that we came up with to explain the coming together of those two worlds,” Nico emphasizes. Over time, other influences have seeped in, creating something that both fulfills and extends beyond their original vision. “It’s really a pan-global thing that we’re doing. But the heartbeat, the essence of [Superfónicos], is based in Afro-Colombian rhythms.”
The group played their first show as Superfónicos at the Sahara Lounge in 2016 and since then have continued to grow their fanbase with their infectiously joyful sound. It’s impossible for the crowd to keep still at one of their shows. The band’s energy is electrifying, spurring raucous movement and a sense of togetherness that is innate of good music. They hope to truly build bridges amongst people with their music. “A big part of our mission is to really help to dispel some of these rumors and myths about what Colombia is.” Nico says with a note of sincerity, “But deeper still, I think what we really want people to leave [our show] with is positivity, a hope, and a feeling of acceptance coming together as a community.”
Contact:
superfonicos.com
@superfonicos
