News

In a world where empathy can be in short supply, the brothers behind Kansas City Latinx rock band Making Movies see music and songwriting as a way young people growing up in a divided country can level the playing field.

The key is exposing them to mentors who can illustrate what’s possible, said Enrique Chi, emphasizing opportunities for youth won’t wait for the end of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which stalled the Latin Grammy-nominated band’s most recent tour.

Produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), The Album Features Collaborations With Rubén Blades, Flor De Toloache, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Asdru Sierra (Ozomatli), Frankie Negrón & Las Cafeteras

"Making Movies are known for their socially conscious songwriting and community work, which they double down in forthcoming album ameri’kana" - Remezcla

"an epic music collaboration" - Grammy.com
"a strident independent ethos and Afro-Caribbean fueled mix of rock and reason" - NPR

ameri'kana, the highly anticipated album from Making Movies and Rubén Blades, is out today. It's an album that is as striking musically as it is narratively. It's the power of collaboration across generations/languages/borders- it's a call to action. 

The album is a collaboration with none other than Rubén Blades. The collaboration began at the 2017 Latin Grammys, when Blades said he wanted to work with Making Movies, setting into motion their first collaboration, No Te Calles, a calling to all artists and the general public to speak out against corruption. Inspired by the poetry of Blades on “No Te Calles” Making Movies entered the studio and dreamed up ameri'kana, an "oldies" station from the future, where the injustices sung about are long gone. The album features artists that align with speaking out against divisions, corruption, and injustices, with the hope that in the future those ills will be a memory. Steve Berlin of Los Lobos signed on to produce the album, his third time working with the group, along with co-producer Ben Yonas and together helmed the sessions that brought the featured cast of ameri'kana: Flor De Toloache, David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, Asdru Sierrra of Ozomatli, Frankie Negrón, and Las Cafeteras. Blades offered himself as a guide and resource to the band during the process, and appears on three tracks of the record, including one co-penned by Lou Reed.