COLECTIVA and Maria Grapsa | "Under The"

Exploring the boundaries between Afro-Latin music and jazz, COLECTIVA are a unique voice on the UK scene, representing the meeting of two musical worlds they believe belong together. 

Their first single, ‘Under The’ came to life when jazz pianist Maria Grapsa brought an early arrangement of the tune to the collective. Working together over a series of collaborative sessions typical of their creative process, they crafted the song you hear today.

Founded as a creative experiment by trombonist Viva Msimang, COLECTIVA makes space for female and non-binary identifying musicians to come together and collaborate in a new dynamic, an alternative to traditional hierarchical structures, free from the Male Gaze. 

Exploring notions of sisterhood through their shared creative practice, the collective empower themselves and their audiences alike.

Tormented melodies, jagged horn hits, and a rhythm section bristling with energy open the
song, evoking sounds of struggle. Harmonies stack, as the musicians reach a triumphant yet vulnerable precipice… The arrival of a montuno transports them towards a utopia, and launching into a timba-inflected breakdown, COLECTIVA take us home, above the trees, within the earth, where we are one, the big cats chasing snakes while deer run free. 

‘Under The’ features Nadine Nagen (violin), Sarah Wackett (flute), Poppy Daniels (trumpet), Deanna Wilhelm (trumpet), Viva Msimang (trombone), Luisa Santiago (keys), Maria Grapsa (original composition, keys), Alley Lloyd (bass), Lilli Elina (congas, percussion), Lya Guerrero (drums). 

This lineup met organically playing together in bands, sessions and jams, and collectively have worked with artists such as Los Van Van, Dayramir Gonzales, Brenda Navarrete, Sampa The Great, Sarathy Korwar, Juanita Euka, Penya, Anjelique Kidjo, Laura Misch, Photay, Msafiri Zawose, Clean Bandit, Little Simz, Shunaji, Camilo Azuquita, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Scrimshire, Yazmin Lacey, and The Cure.