Cha Wa

After honing their explosive sound in clubs and festivals around the Crescent City, the Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa is releasing their debut album. The recording, aptly named Funk ‘n’ Feathers, is their red-hot combination of two of New Orleans’ best traditions, Mardi Gras Indians and street level funk music. Funk ‘n’ Feathers combines deep funk, percussive polyrhythms, and a mix of singing and Mardi Gras Indian chanting. All of these elements fuse into an intoxicating, hypnotic blend of culture that could only come out of the Crescent City. “The music is based on the Mardi Gras Indians, the brass bands, and the street culture of New Orleans,” says bandleader/drummer Joe Gelini. “Cha Wa” is a slang phrase used by every Mardi Gras Indian tribe. It means “We’re comin’ for ya” – and this band is definitely comin’ for ya!