Quique Escamilla
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Quique Escamilla

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | INDIE

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2006
Band Latin World

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Music

Press


"Quique at Canada's National Arts Centre."

"After each song the sold-out crowd at the National Arts Centre walked willingly into the palm of Quique's hand and became his diehard fans. He is charming without being silly, political without being pretentious, and gifted as a performer in every way." 
-Amanda Putz, CBC Radio-Canada, Ottawa. - Amanda Putz CBC


"Performing at Interstellar Rodeo (music festival in Alberta Canada)"

"Sunday's early-afternoon highlights included the Interstellar Rodeo All-Stars, featuring Quique Escamilla and his many hats, singer-songwriter Danny Michel, and Blue Rodeo's charming frontman, Jim Cuddy. The three, backed by members of the Garifuna Collective, traded tunes — with Escamilla's Mexican-flavoured version of Johnny Cash's 'Walk The Line' taking the title of crowd favourite" 
-Sandra Sperounes, Edmonton Journal.

http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=11e0e83d-c1aa-418c-a91e-2c5d99d6689b - Sandra Sperounes, Edmonton Journal.


"Michael Franti & Spearhead with Quique Escamilla: At the Hub, Thursday, June 14"

Evening Concerts: Rockin’ Revolutionaries
Quique Escamilla (8:00 PM), Michael Franti & Spearhead (9:00 pm)

Born in the Mexican state of Chiapas, singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Quique Escamilla has called Toronto home since 2007. Last year, his captivating blend of traditional and contemporary Mexican styles caught the attention of producers at CBC Radio, and he has since been regularly featured on such shows as Here and Now, Metro Morning and Fresh Air. Inspired by such artists as Bob Marley and Manu Chau, Escamilla’s music provides provocative examination of the issues that plague his homeland.



From: Luminato Festival 2012. (Toronto's festival of art and creativity)
Link: http://www.luminato.com/events/hubjune14/ - Luminato Festival 2012. (Toronto's festival of art and creativity)


"Quique Escamilla at Mariposa Folk Festival."

"Quique Escamilla is constantly evolving, always digging deep for truth, passionate about life and honouring the past. His music is stirring, rhythmic and he has a clear voice with a profound message. But what makes this folk and roots troubadour one of the most unique I've ever encountered is his eloquence and enchanting manner, on and off stage, with audiences, fellow musicians, friends and strangers. Quique Escamilla quickly teaches everyone he connects with, that music isn't just a show, it's life and it's all around. It's in us and always has been. He's ready. Are you?"

Amy Mangan, Artistic Liaison - Mariposa Folk Festival.
2012. - Amy Mangan, Artistic Liaison - Mariposa Folk Festival.


"'Modern Day Troubadour""

"Modern day troubadour Quique Escamilla makes music that comes straight from the soul.
The stories he tells are the stories we need to hear; socially and politically conscious
lyrics paired with exceptional musicianship. He's a unique talent who holds to the traditions of
heavyweights like Bob Marley and Manu Chao. Quique is really one to watch!"
-Garvia Bailey, CBC Radio. (Toronto host) - Garvia Bailey. CBC Radio (Toronto host)


"Quique Escamilla Crosses All Bridges."

It was at The Dakota tavern that I first saw Quique Escamilla play, and he killed it. People were bumping to his songs and his band was in the pocket. Jose Ortega, the artistic director/owner of Lula Lounge, was also there, and he noticed me grooving to the sound. I said to him that I was really impressed with Quique’s style, fresh, familiar, yet somehow not pretentious or cheesy, and he even seemed to have a hipster following! Jose looked at me and responded “yeah, he crosses all the bridges.” At that moment I knew it would be wicked to have Quique on board for an Uma Nota show.

In our world, almost no one has just one form of musical influence. It’s basically impossible. In a city like New York, São Paulo, Paris, Toronto, or any multicultural city, we may all have our frame of musical reference, but we can appreciate and take the best of all the musical forms that cross our paths. We in the big urban centres of the world are highly internationalized. We have reggae. We have Latin rhythms like cumbia and son. We have the global influence of Brazilian music. We have rock & roll and we have blues music. We hear music through our national references, our friends, the radio, parties, the internet, etc. …

And every once and a while a musician comes around that “crosses all those bridges” and brings the sounds together for a fine mix and audible feast that can be appreciated by all. We have seen this with many great troubadours, from Bob Marley and Calle 13 to Manu Chao. In the Tdot, we have Señor Escamilla and we are now in the “summer of Quique.” He recently opened up for Spearhead at the Luminato Festival and has developed quite a name for himself with his musical talent and the ease in which he speaks with the crowd, switching it up from Spanish to English without any problems.

Quique’s story is a beautiful one. He started singing at age four in Chiapas at family reunions and away he went. Now he is in TO and we are happy to have him.

“In spite of the distance from his homeland and his people, he still remains very attached to his roots, culturally and musically influenced, and very much inclined to support through his music diverse social causes such as; human and civil rights, immigration reform, global conservation, anti-racism, discrimination and other political issues.” – Quique’s bio on the CBC Music website. Wicked. You can also listen to some of his songs here. Quique performs July 27th at the Uma Nota 5 year anniversary party.

Review from: UMA NOTA (Toronto's Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian festival)
http://umanota.ca/quique-escamilla-crosses-all-bridges/ - Uma Nota (Toronto's Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian festival)


"Quique Escamilla: Mexican Roots Rock Reggae"

Quique Escamilla has been quietly building up a name for himself in Canada’s Alt-Latin scene. Originally from Chiapas, Mexico, Quique has been calling Toronto home since 2007. An unassuming singer-songwriter, Quique blends traditional Mexican musical forms such as huapango and rancheras with contemporary rock and reggae influences.

Recently, Quique has become a sort of a darling for the CBC. His sound has captivated their attention which has opened the door to several performances on CBC radio, including the presentation of his debut EP in January 2012.

His modest style and presence only helps add a level of authenticity to his haunting tributes to his troubled homeland. In the past, Quique has been known to perform wearing a balaclava (similar to the ones worn by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation) and has dedicated many of his songs to the struggle for human rights and the environment.

Quique may be guilty of taking a page from the book of Manu Chao, or Bob Marley, but only so that he can add his own regional twist to their influences. Quique Escamilla and the Band, in a short amount of time, have created a strong following behind their electrifying live shows and with a few more years we can be sure Quique will be taking a leadership role in Canada’s growing Alt-Latino movement.

Quique Escamilla and his band will be performing with Michael Franti & Speardhead on Thursday, June 14, 2012 as part of the Luminato Festival in Toronto. Details here.

And watch out for more shows this summer with Quique Escamilla and the Band!



(Review from: DOS MUNDOS Radio. CIUT-89.5FM [University of Toronto radio station])

http://www.dosmundosradio.com/vida/quique-escamilla-mexican-roots-rock-reggae/ - Dos Mundos. CIUT - 89.5 FM (University of Toronto Radio Station)


Discography

EP - Self titled album:  Quique Escamilla  (released Jan. 2012) 

LP Album: "500 Years of Night"  (released April 2014)

LP SONGS: 
  •  Mascara de Esperanza 
  •  Okavango 
  •  Fruta De Amor 
  •  Cancion Mixteca 
  •  Huapango de Tequila 
  •  Nuevo Dia, Hombre Libre 
  •  Fruta de Amor
  •  El Jinete
  •  Presa Facil
  •  Cotorras de la Sima 
  •  Ni Uno Mas
  •  Tiro de Gracia

Photos

Bio

"Modern day troubadour Quique Escamilla makes music that comes straight from the soul. The stories he tells are the stories we need to hear; socially and politically conscious lyrics paired with exceptional musicianship. He's a unique talent who holds to the traditions of heavyweights like Bob Marley and Manu Chao. Quique is really one to watch!" - Garvia Bailey, CBC Radio Canada.

Quique Escamilla was born and raised to a family of six in the warm, tropical southern lands of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. He started singing at the age of four at his family reunions. At the age of six in a crowded restaurant and accompanied by the in-house six-piece Mariachi band, he performed a full version of El Rey in front of an audience where he discovered for the first time the thrill of performing and the powerful magic of live music.

Today, Quique Escamilla is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer living in Toronto. Since his arrival in 2007, he has rapidly become a rising star on the Canadian music scene. In 2011, he was discovered by a CBC radio producer and has since become a favourite on popular CBC Toronto shows such as Here and Now, Metro Morning, Fresh Air and Big City Small World. He has been a featured guest at special CBC presentations like the annual fundraiser Sounds of the Season aired live from the Glenn Gould studioalongside artists like Justin Rutledge, Sophie Milman, Jenn Grant and Michelle Wright. 2012 was a important and productive year for Quique in which he launched his self-titled debut EP, with a concert recorded for CBC's Canada Live at Toronto's Lula Lounge Arts Centre. In the summer, he was invited to open for Michael Franti & Spearhead at the prestigious stage of Luminato Festival 2012; as well as to perform at other great shows and summer festivals such as Mariposa Folk Festival, and wrapping up the summer season with the closing concert of La Falla Festival (La Tohu, Montreal) and Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square's Tasty Thursdays summer series. In the fall and winter of 2012 he toured Canada opening solo for Danny Michel's cd release shows for his latest album "Black Birds Dancing Over Me", and ended that leg of the Michel's tour with an opening slot at the majestic Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto and two sold out shows at Canada's National Art Centre in Ottawa. 

"After each song the sold-out crowd at the National Arts Centre walked willingly into the palm of Quique's hand and became his diehard fans. He is charming without being silly, political without being pretentious, and gifted as a performer in every way." -Amanda Putz, CBC Radio-Canada, Ottawa.

Quique and his band toured extensively in the summer of 2013.  He performed at some popular Canadian festivals, including a spectacular show at the INTERSTELLAR RODEO ALL-STARS: FEATURING JIM CUDDY, DANNY MICHEL, AND QUIQUE ESCAMILLA and other 2013 festival performances included: Shelter Valley Folk Festival, Blue Skies, Toronto Harbourfront, South Country Fair, SunFest, Small World Music Festival, Yonge & Dundas Square, Toronto Bicycle Music Fest, etc. In most recent performances he got to share reputable stages along with high caliber artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Feist, The Sky Diggers, Serena Ryder, Alabama Shakes, Sarah Harmer. 

"Sunday's early-afternoon highlights included the Interstellar Rodeo All-Stars, featuring Quique Escamilla and his many hats, singer-songwriter Danny Michel, and Blue Rodeo's charming frontman, Jim Cuddy. The three, backed by members of the Garifuna Collective, traded tunes with Escamilla's Mexican-flavoured version of Johnny Cash's 'Walk The Line' taking the title of crowd favourite" -Sandra Sperounes, Edmonton Journal.

Quique releases his new record 500 Years of Night on April 22nd 2014 and will go on a Canadian national tour in 2014, starting in the late spring.   

25 years of performing live have seasoned Quique to effortlessly connect with his audiences, be it in an intimate house concert setting or on Toronto's venerable Harbourfront stage. He breaks down language barriers through his powerful voice and passionate delivery while fusing traditional Mexican styles of music such as ranchera and huapango with modern sounds of rock, reggae, ska, pop, jazz, cumbia, bolero, and a variety of other Latin American rhythms. His lyrics carry powerful messages that are inspired by and support various social and political issues such as human and civil rights, immigration reform, global conservation, anti-racism, discrimination, anti-oppression and Indigenous rights. Despite the distance from his homeland, Quique remains strongly attached to his Mexican roots. He is honoured to be in Canada to share with his audiences a flavour of Mexican culture, heritage and traditions through his music and live contemporary performances.


Band Members