Tundra Music Collective is an afrobeat/hip hop collective from Montreal. It is helmed by Ritchie, cofounder of the electro-irreverent outfit Artist of The Year. Tundra originally started in 2015 and is rooted in a feeling of not doing enough. As one grows older it becomes increasingly harder to stay unconcerned by the social inequities that surround us. A decision was made to act upon this feeling and get involved to raise social awareness on various topics. Tundra is the music vehicle conveying a specific message. Although this theme has been widely explored and might sound cliché, the human experience behind every story is singular and original.
The project represents a blend of two musical genres who are vectors of social changes: afrobeat & hip hop. Both genres are unifying, festive and have historically served to raise awareness. Afrobeat is a mesmerizing blend of influences, it is both engaging & hypnotic. Although hip hop’s core message has been diluted over the years, it is lyrically percussive and remains a clear demonstration of the power of words. Hip hop crosses borders and resonates across different cultures and generations. tundra will be a nordic take on this mix. It will highlight the collaborators specific geolocation (Canada) while portraying their multifaceted cultural heritage (world).
RAWK ON was the first song composed for this project. It features vocals by Karma, Jesse Maxwell & Waahli. Frank Bones on drums, Andre “Dede” Desilets on horns, all other instrumentations by Ritchie. Vocals have been recorded by Franky Selector at Shabby Chic Studios. Song is co-produced and mixed by Ritchie & Franky Selector. Mastering by Ryan Morey. Cover Picture by 16pads. Lyric Video/Artwork by do:be
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