Citizen Mundi
Gig Seeker Pro

Citizen Mundi

| INDIE

| INDIE
Band World Latin

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Reggae Fest"

"Citizen Mundi took the stage
next. Touting itself as “World
Music,” Mundi played one song
with lyrics in French, Spanish
and Portuguese. Although it
was hard to discern what the
song was about, the band
played with a musical flair all
their own.
Guitarist/vocalist Jean-Michel
Balaguer played a classical guitar
in a manner reminiscent of
Mark Knopfler mixed with
some Spanish tints.
“Tonight I dream about fraternity
/ Tonight, I say one
day / One day, my dreams will
be reality / Just like my poppie
said to me,” Balaguer sang.
Trombonist Michael Drummond
and saxophonist Ryan
Tedder burned the house down.

Reggae Fest’s themes of world
harmony, peace, and environmental
responsibility played
amidst strip-mall consumerism
— but the show worked. I just
wish it could’ve continued."

Matt Elliott
matt.elliott@tulsaworld.com - Tulsa World


"Peace, Love and Free Music"

By Gary Hizer

Friday evening's headliner, Citizen Mundi, has already seen quite the buzz surrounding the release of its new album, No Translation. If you already follow the band or read about them in UTW's 1-7 March, you already know that the band's mantra is "let music bring peace to the world."

What you may not realize, however, is just how powerful and life changing the music can really be.

As Jean Michel, Eric, Canuto and Sergio were establishing the band, Jean Michel had approached keyboardist Wilfredo Nanita about joining the group. Although Wilfredo initially declined the offer, fate and Karma had different things in store.

Unfortunately, something went wrong when Wil had a nasal surgery and he experienced a brain hemorrhage, resulting in the loss of feeling in half of his body. During the course of his recovery, Jean Michel came to visit him in the hospital and mentioned that his band was still together and trying to find its niche.

Eventually, Wil's doctor discovered that he was a musician and directed (or prescribed, if you will) him to start playing again as part of his therapy and healing.

"I immediately thought of Jean Michel," said Nanita. "I think I just called and said 'Hey -- you know, I need to play. Maybe I should just go and rehearse with you guys and see what's going on' and I think that was it. I never looked for another band."

Of course, Canuto, Citizen Mundi's drummer, is quick to point out that Wil's first rehearsal was even more significant for the band: not only was that when the band found its signature sound, but it was also Mundi's first informal show for its friends.

Of course, that's only a piece of the Citizen Mundi story, but it's poignant nonetheless. As Wilfredo openly shares. "Citizen Mundi was a healing thing for me. Now, of course, I'm pretty much normal and everything -- it's all good and Citizen Mundi had a part in that," he said.

Now that all of the pieces are falling into place, the Mundis are adding to their citizenship at a rapid pace and the band's recent CD release is only a part of the movement.

As many UTW readers already know, the band's appearance at the Wakarusa Winter Classic, a "battle of the bands," earned them a spot at this summer's Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence, Kansas. Just last week, however, the group was informed that Citizen Mundi will be performing on Wakarusa's main stage.

You can be sure that Urban Tulsa will let you know the details as they emerge, but a for now, we are proud to have Citizen Mundi performing as part of our NewVo concert series. Be sure to arrive early on Friday night as the Mundis continue in their mission to spread world peace and healing (both personal and cultural), beginning right here at home.
- Urban Tulsa Weekly


"One love"

By MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer
3/2/2007


Citizen Mundi takes its international lineup and message to the next step
Citizen Mundi is through being a bar band and has taken its first step toward the next level by making its first album, mastered by a recording engineer who has worked with artists ranging from Santana to Dave Matthews Band.

The seven-man band, formed in 2004, cut its teeth playing shows in Tulsa while saving up the cash to record "No Translation," a melding of the band's live sound and collaborative songwriting into a self-produced album that captures the full gamut of the international band's message.

"We're not a bar band anymore," said vocalist/guitarist Jean-Michel Balaguer. "You know, we've done that to prove ourselves and I think we've done what we needed to do. It's time to step it up a notch, you know."

But Citizen Mundi is a bit more complex than the bar-band tag. Bars are simply the place to play when you're starting out. The band, whose name means "world citizen," takes its songs, sung in four different languages, and throws them into a funky reggae/latin rock mix that has made the band a hit with local music fans.

While the band appreciates that reception, it uses its music to advance a message -- not an agenda, as its members point out -- of love, global consciousness and tolerance. Mundi wants you to party and feel good, but the band's members also want you to know that what goes around on this tiny planet comes around.

The band recorded "No Translation" off and on since 2005 at keyboardist Wilfredo Nanita's house. But the band realized it needed someone outside the group to master the album, Balaguer said. "Mastering" is the process by which an album's parts are merged into a master recording from which all copies are drawn.

Trombonist Michael Drummond, an Owasso High School graduate and University of Tulsa student, knew engineer Drew Lavyne from his days performing with Blast, a touring performance group of drummers and horn players.

Although it cost a pretty penny to work with Lavyne, the group is very happy with the result.

"It's pretty amazing to have your first CD, have everything on there, just be something that you like, you know, or something that you love," said the group's bassist, Eric Bass. "And then we've all played in different projects before, you know, when you're constrained by time and money and you have to get up in the studio and record it and get all of it knocked out.

"There's always stuff that you hear and you kind of cringe at, you know. Well, on this disc, there are no moments like that."

"No Translation" features songs the band has tested live. The catchy reggae numbers "Ladrones" and "Places" pop and sway with bright horns from Drummond and Tedder while Balaguer urges a love of our fellow man.

Those songs as well as the dance number "Baila Planeta" offer a pop juxtaposition to the more experimental vibes of the keyboard-driven instrumental song "Chan" and its nylon string-guitared brother, "Despierta." Further varying the mix is the accordion-laced "Blame the World," in which a disillusioned Balaguer asks the listener to bring him back to what initially inspired him.

The band also is a melting pot of nationalities. Balaguer is originally from France; Nanita, the Dominican Republic; Erick Donis the drummer and percussionist Sergio D'Alonzo are Venezuelan, while Bass, Drummond and saxophonist Ryan Tedder are Americans.

And like most local bands, Citizen Mundi balances its music with its musicians' day jobs.

Nanita is an electrical engineer. Drummond is a stay-at-home father. Bass is a fire alarm technician. Balaguer works at an accounting firm and Tedder is a University of Tulsa student who works at Radio Shack.

Donis works in a meat factory and D'Alonzo works on a farm.

"But at the end of the day, we're all equal," Balaguer said.

Audiences have had no problem identifying with Citizen Mundi, despite different languages, Balaguer said. But, when asked if fans drawn to the party-like atmosphere of its performances understood the band's message, he said he wasn't sure.

" We're hoping that it is," he said. "But, I think now a lot of our fans are getting it and now with the CD coming out with the lyrics in there, it's going to even increase the awareness of what we're trying to say and the message that we're trying to give."

To release the album, the band started its own label, ZenZen Records, part of what Drummond calls a self-sustaining operation that aids the band in the business side of its music.

The album marks the beginning of a big year for Citizen Mundi, one in which the group will be performing at the Lawrence, Kan., Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival this June after winning a recent band competition at the Cain's Ballroom.

Also, Drummond said the band will start recording and videoing all of its performances possibly for use at a later date.

All th - Tulsa World


"Wakarusa Classic Winner"

Local band to play noted music festival

By MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer
2/8/2007

Citizen Mundi has won a band competition that puts it on the lineup playing at the Lawrence, Kan., Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival in June.

That means the local funk/reggae/jazz/rock band will share the June 7-10 festival's stage with acts that range from Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals to Little Feat and Indigenous.

The competition was Saturday at the Cain's Ballroom, and featured shows by jazz act Harmonious Monk, Oklahoma City-area instrumental rockers the Non, local Rastafarian Adam Lopez, and Dirtfoot, from Shreveport, La.

Attendees to the concert voted on their favorite act, and the votes were tabulated after the show.

Last year's Wakarusa festival featured more than 100 artists playing on seven stages, the festival's Web site states. For information and tickets, go to www.wakarusa.com.


- Tulsa World


Discography

Singles- "Baila Planeta" and "My Brother" can be heard on Tulsa RSU Radio 91.3FM, 104.5 THE EDGE as well as stream on:

www.tulsaoriginalmusic.com
www.citizenmundi.com
www.myspace.com/citizenmundi
www.youtube.com (Keyword- Citizen Mundi)

Photos

Bio

Representing five nations across the globe, Citizen Mundi was formed in Tulsa Oklahoma during fall of 2004. Citizen Mundi is a high energy performance that caters to all ages and demographics. The music is a mix of many diverse styles such as Rock, Reggae, Funk, Ska, Latin, Afro Cuban, Jazz and Flamenco.

After the release of Citizen Mundi debut album ‘No Translation’ in March of 2007 they were invited to perform at Wakarusa Music Festival in Kansas during June of 07 where they performed amongst artists such as Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Ozomatli, Tom Morello, Widespread Panic, Les Claypool and Madeski Martin Wood to name just a few.

The turn of a new millennium has opened doors to artists from all over the world. Citizens from all regions across the globe are now in communication with one another to share ideas as well as this universal language we call Music.

"This is an exciting time for all and with these tools we can promote love, tolerance and harmony!" CM