In Conversation With Che Sudaka

Che Sudaka, a band with a pure South American soul, will be playing at KadıköySahne on Thursday, 6 March. One of our writers, Mustafa Çankaya, was able to briefly sit down with the band and chat about their music, their high-energy shows and the various social causes they support. Thursday night promises to be a ruckus!

Source: Mustafa Cankaya www.performansfoto.com
Source: Mustafa Çankaya 

Mustafa Çankaya: Let’s start with the name of the band. What is the meaning of Che Sudaka?

Che Sudaka: The name comes from two words – ‘Che’ and ‘Sudaka’. Che comes from Mapuche, and the Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants from South America. The word ‘che’ in the Mapuche language means ‘people’ and ‘sudaka’ is the pejorative term used in Spain to refer to South Americans. So ‘Che Sudaka’ would mean ‘Discriminated South Americans’. We use that name in an ironic way because we feel proud of where we come from and can’t help but laugh at discrimination.

How many members are in the band?

The four of us you see here. Kachafaz on vocals & megaphone, Leo on vocals & spanish guitar, Sergio Morales on keyboard, accordion & back-up vocals, and Jota on guitar & back-up vocals.

Source: Mustafa Cankaya www.performansfoto.com
Source: Mustafa Çankaya 

When did you meet each other?

We found each other in Barcelona around 2004, though we are all originally from Colombia and Argentina. The four of us have been together for ten years.

Were you all playing street music?

Che Sudaka certainly started on the streets. But we, the Colombians, never played on the streets. We came from other rock bands.

Who composes the music?

Leo composes the lyrics and we all compose the music together.

You are almost always on tour, do you find any time to compose music?

(laughing) It’s the same as finding time for our interview. In gaps, on the road, etc.

How do you define the music you are making?

Cumbia ska and punk.

What kind of music you like to listen to?

All music that is made with heart and soul. So, some popular music but from all different genres.

Source: Mustafa Cankaya
Source: Mustafa Çankaya

Do you listen to any Turkish music?

Leo: The other day I listened to a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”.

By Athena?

Leo: Yes, Athena, they make very good music. The first Turkish band I’ve listened to.

Kachafaz (jokingly): Joe Strummer from the Clash was Turkish, so he counts as Turkish music.

Which musicians would you like to collaborate with? For instance, you collaborated with Manu Chao…

We have done projects with many musicians. We are also in touch with a number of musicians, Manu among them because we live in the same city. So among the ones we know, he is the best, the most representative. But we have been lucky to meet many musicians. In the next album there will be many guests artists: UB40, Gogol Bordello, Mark Foggo and Burro Mucho from Colombia

You have a very high energy during your concerts, how do you get so much energy?

A healthy life! All four of us are vegetarian and haven’t had anything to drink for two years. Also, no hard drugs.

And do you spend most of your free time together?

Since we are working on the project all together, we always have to be in touch.

Do you have any time for your families?

Very little…the same time to make this interview with you (laughs). Yes, we have a bit of time but it’s hard to find time for things other than music.

Source: Mustafa Cankaya
Source: Mustafa Çankaya

Do you support or work directly with any social responsibility projects?

We don’t have any specific projects of our own but we assist several projects. Not so long ago we were working with Hijos, an organization that helps find the children of people who ‘disappeared’ in the [Argentinian] dictatorship. In Barcelona there is an office and we did a charity concert and a compilation album. That’s the most recent one, but we also helped Veïns del Mon, an organization that gives food and helps families at risk for eviction and unemployment. We did a compilation album also for them. In Berlin we were with the refugees from Lampedusa that have been camping for a year an a half in a square – we wanted to help their cause. We have always been interested in these types of causes because of the lyrics we sing and our style of life. And also because we come from Latin America and solidarity – helping each other – is very important there.

What about politics! Is politics a part of your music?

No. We are more interested in the social perspective than the political perspective. We think politcs nowadays is not the solution. We believe that social projects, more so than politics, are the way to help people.

The headliners at festivals start with a big audience and usually end up with less people. But for Che Sudaka it’s the complete opposite, you start with a smaller audience and at the end of the concert it’s totally crowded and no one wants to leave. Why is that?

This is our street spirit! It’s the same on the streets. When we started playing it was always like this. First only with one person listening and after a few minutes there were hundreds of people in front us. We’ve maintained the street spirit of Che Sudaka – we are pure street style. We greet all the fans in Istanbul and invite them to our concert on Thursday, 6 March!

Che Sudaka
Thursday, 6 March
KadıköySahne
Osmanağa Mah. Kırtasiyeci Sok. 25E
Kadıköy İstanbul
0216 550 04 92

For tickets visit Biletix.

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