Watch The Trailer for Buraka Som Sistema’s Off The Beaten Track Documentary
Off The Beaten Track is the documentary that tells the incredible story of four unlikely musicians over the past year, as they travel to the likes of Luanda, Caracas, Paris, India, London and the Lisbon suburb of Amadora to show how these cities, as well as their sounds, people, colors and movement helped to create the phenomenon that is Buraka Som Sistema.
With the full support of Red Bull Music Academy and the talented illustration work of artist Kate Moross, join Lisbon's most unlikely band on a trip around the world and back to the studio, as they bring their experiences home to start laying down the first beats of the next Buraka album.
A few years ago, a group of artists came together in Lisbon with the common desire to conquer the world's dancefloors. Academy alum and team member Branko, Riot, Kalaf and Conductor - four completely different guys from totally different backgrounds - took the furious rhythms of Angolan kuduro, mixed it with techno, grime and whatever else was at hand, and took this experimental mix to the clubs. Despite being an incredibly multicultural city, Lisbon can also be a very traditional place, but by challenging all laws of probability, Buraka's impact in the Lisbon nightlife was profound and forever changed the city's musical status quo. From there, the kuduro virus started spreading, crossing borders, effectively living up to the expectations created by the title of the band's first EP, From Buraka To The World (2006).
After this initial EP came the Black Diamond (2009) and Komba (2011) full-length albums, the support of major artists like Diplo, M.I.A., Santigold and Skream, live concerts and DJ sets in far-flung corners of the globe like Colombia, India, Mozambique or Japan, international awards, and the introduction of the Zouk Bass music genre to the world. However, since every good story needs conflict, the boys have met their fair share of trouble when crossing borders with Angolan passports, to losing all of the Enchufada (the band’s label and agency) record and merchandise stock in a fire.
Directed by João Pedro Moreira, who has previously worked with the band on Hangover (BaBaBa) and Sound of Kuduro, Off The Beaten Track brings together all of the elements that make Buraka's story so unique and blends them with exclusive international, never-seen-before footage for an incredible wild ride into what life is like in one of the most colourful and innovative bands of our generation.
Screenings of the documentary will premiere around Europe beginning this October (along with live performances each night from the band), with the full release availabe online worldwide on October 19.
• Thursday, 10 October - London, United Kingdom - Village Underground
• Tuesday, 15 October - Berlin, Germany - Lido
• Thursday 17 October - Paris, France - Le Maroquenerie
• Friday 18 October - Amsterdam, Netherlands - ADE @ Paradiso
• Saturday 19 October - Leuven, Belgium - Depot
