News in from Sordid Soup Records : Arguably brought to the masses by Manu Chao after a tip-off from a UK promoter, Peyoti For President both opened and closed Manu’s recent sell-out UK tour playing to an audience of almost 5,000 at Brixton Academy on the first night alone. Heralded by many as music’s answer to Che Guevara, Peyoti For President champions an international sound and a universal message. Their album Rising Tide of Conformity
Tom Robinson described the band on his BBC 6 Music show as ‘not so much of a pop group…more an attitude…more a way of life…more a way of thinking’, a great compliment and sentiment which is not at all far from the mark, as their name suggests. Peyoti for President are about re-evaluating this modern day world and how our societies function but equally, they are a high energy, feel good band whose performances consistently inspire audiences leaving them sweating and grinning.
Festival appearances at Bestival and Glade as well as the Brixton Academy and Nottingham Rock City shows in addition to equally rewarding performances at squat parties in Hackney built up a considerable excitement surrounding this hybrid band. Fusing Latin American sounds with pop sensibilities coupled with politically infused lyrics and a party attitude delivered in a DIY manner, make Peyoti For President one of the few artists that treat music as a way of life and a means to pass a message across while representing London’s true melting pot of cultures.
Born out of the urban decay of London’s suburbia it wasn’t until recently the initial partnership of Anglo-Italian singer songwriter Pietro Dimascio and Ulisses Bezerra, son of samba’s first ‘reality rapper’ Bezzera da Silva, became more of a band. Now their live show typically ranges from between 5 and 8 players with diverse ethnic origins spanning at least 8 nationalities.
The band is spearheaded by frontman and guitarist, Pietro. Born parentless in the UK and adopted by a British family at the age of one, for many years his unknown ethnic origins and consequent search to discover his parents was a blessing which enabled him to feel no specific allegiance with any one culture – but an affinity with many, which is very noticeable in his music.
Peyoti For President’s debut album ‘Rising Tide of Conformity’ features over 20 great musical minds from countries as diverse as Brazil, Egypt, Syria, India, Jamaica, Australia, Italy, Spain, Ireland and the UK, such as violinist Sami Bishai (who played with Yasmin Levy), ney and darbucka player Louai Alhenawi (played with Natasha Atlas), Indian congas and percussion player and acclaimed godfather of the British Asian movement Pandit Dinesh (played with Ravi Shankar) and Ulisses Bezerra, son of the legendary revolutionary people’s hero of Brazil, Bezzera da Silva.
Peyoti for President is a truly international act making music for the people – made by the people, encouraging unity and harmony. Dance anthems, party vibes, rabble-rousing punk doused with the fuel of social consciousness! There are many expressions currently being linked together and banded about in an attempt to describe the new sound that is Peyoti For President, all of which are applicable and all of which become instantly redundant once printed. The only way to experience the true essence of Peyoti For President is to witness them first hand – and then, like the majority of life’s most tangible experiences, the moment has passed and you’re left feeling slightly more privileged than you were before.
Rising Tide of Conformity
