In celebration of global Earth Day this Monday, April 22nd, Brazilian global DJ, producer and humanitarian ALOK, releases his much-anticipated album “The Future is Ancestral” on April 19th, also the date of Indigenous People's Day in Brazil. The project is the result of over 500 hours in studio, involving over 50 musicians who shaped the eight tracks sung by various indigenous communities. “THE FUTURE IS ANCESTRAL” is available on all digital platforms.
The album invites the audience to immerse themselves in a sonic landscape where each track tells a story of innovation, resilience, and cultural resurgence. Listeners will be taken on a journey into the indigenous culture and sounds of Brazil while being transported to new horizons, which is forged around the central message of the importance of preserving indigenous roots. The executive production is co-signed by Fernando Garibay, the GRAMMY-award winning and nominated songwriter.
"Pedju Kunumigwe" (Guarani Nhandewa) is an invitation to listen to the sound of birds and nature. “Sina Vaishu" (Yawanawa) speaks about following the path of the ancestors and shifting the way we think. "Yube Mana Ibubu" (Huni Kuin) is an extension of a traditional Brazilian prayer and calls for resistance and survival. "JARAHA" (Guarani-Kaiowá) is a hip-hop song with rap verses about yearning for ancestral homelands. "Canto do Vento" (Kariri Xocó) is a voice of connection with their ancestors and with life. "Rap Nativo" presents the words of a warrior, about their culture and connection with the divine. "Sangue Indígena" (Kaingang) is a battle cry for the preservation of life and indigenous lands. "Manifesto Futuro Ancestral" (Célia Xakriabá) reflects on the Brazilian cultural origin and brings forth the strength of indigenous words in their struggle and poetry.
”I feel honored to be able to serve as a platform to amplify the voices of indigenous ancestry. 'The Future Is Ancestral' is not just a musical project; it is a movement to reforest the imagination of our society and its perception of indigenous peoples and the importance of their presence in multiple territories," explains Alok.
The project was initiated in 2021, and some of its songs have already made appearances at international events such as Global Citizen Live (2021), at the official United Nations headquarters in New York for the pre-opening of Climate Week (2022 and 2023), and most recently, the album's pre-launch at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, "THE FUTURE IS ANCESTRAL" has been recognized by UNESCO as a relevant action for the "International Decade of Indigenous Languages." The work reaffirms the importance of Indigenous people occupying various social and cultural spaces within society.
