What do you REALLY know about AMERI’KANA Music?

Making Movies blends classic rock with Latin American rhythms, incorporating African-derived percussion and styles such as rumba, merengue, mambo, and cumbia, the entirety of the Americas, not just the United States. They are lifelong musicians uncovering connections between genres and cultures, including their own, and shedding historical facts on the musical genre also known as Americana. Making Movies created Arts as a Mentorship – Empowering young people to write their own success stories to remove barriers for youth who didn’t feel included in the mainstream music scene due to race or economic status. The mentees needed a place to perform so organically, AMERI’KANA Arts and Music Festival emerged. Through the process of live streaming the event during the pandemic and all the history and knowledge they garnered, the documentary AMERI’KANA was birthed, which Aired on Kansas City PBS.

The documentary AMERI’KANA, highlights the evolution of music in cities like New Orleans, Memphis, and Kansas City, where Making Movies formed. Enrique says, “Our educational initiatives and community outreach are deeply intertwined with our music projects, creating a holistic approach to our work.”

Enrique and his brother Diego Chi, along with Juan-Carlos Chaurand and Duncan Burnett, are the current members of Making Movies and to them AMERI’KANA music goes beyond heritage. The music transcends to active movements of change with a great humbleness. Enrique, who speaks prophetically through is his music, speaks in sounds, and in beats that were handed down as stories, as elements of hope, as warnings, as a sense of belonging and togetherness. 

Enrique Chi’s father sparked cultural movements and forged an inner soul connection beyond a spoken language with music. Enrique says his father’s love of music opened the doors for a bilingual tongue and broke down barriers as a son in an immigrant family. “Music has always been a part of my life. Even before I spoke English, I was singing English rock and roll songs that my dad listened to,” says Enrique. “He played guitar, so I had the blessing of having a guitar teacher at home. I never took formal lessons, but my dad helped me learn by showing me how to play songs. As I grew older, I began volunteering and doing community work for immigrant kids, which made me realize the importance of giving back.”

Enrique actualized his experience and created a mentorship for other youth: a music camp and eventually an organization focused on providing access to music for kids in need. He knew the language of music. He knew how much music brings joy, and he wanted to share that wealth with others. This program was a stable event in Kansas City, but is now is part of their tour. Making Movies performs in classrooms around the USA as the Rebel Song Academy (Arts in Mentorship – on the road).

Students from Art as Mentorship’s flagship program in Kansas City, the Rebel Song Academy, and the AMERI’KANA All-Stars; form a supergroup of local and international musicians and performer at Celebrate AMERI’KANA Arts and Music Festival. AMERI’KANA Music & Arts Festival is Kansas City’s most vibrant and festive day of music, bringing together national, local, and youth performers and artisans to celebrate the BIPOC musicians and the diverse Kansas City arts community.

“I believe music is a powerful tool for building community and bringing people together. The Rebel Song Academy, while primarily a songwriter’s program, focuses less on technical music instruction and more on self-expression and identity exploration. We encourage young people to express themselves through music and explore why it matters to do so,” Enrique claims. “By creating a supportive environment for individual and collective expression, we’ve seen profound changes in the participants’ mindset and well-being.”

The band faced challenges in booking opportunities because of cultural biases in the music industry. To overcome this, they learned to craft their language and presentation to appeal to a wider audience.

Enrique says, “While it’s disheartening to encounter such biases, we approach them with understanding and focus on finding creative ways to showcase our music. We’ve also found support from our management company in booking opportunities and continue to seek out inclusive spaces for our performances.”

In 2024, the band is releasing their first live album and concert film, recorded at the historic Folly Theater in Kansas City. The concert film will premiere on PBS in early 2024. The band will also release XOPA: The Movie, a comedy adventure following the exploits of the group before and after mysteriously disappearing in a plane crash as well as a new studio album XOPITA.

Follow Making Movies: ▶ Website: https://www.makingmovies.world/ ▶ Facebook:   / makingmoviesworld   ▶ Instagram:   / mkngmvs   ▶ Twitter:   / makingmovieshq   Patrons:   / makingmovies  

This interview was inspired by a talk with Color me Country Radio, Black Opry Review, and AMERI’KANA at the Park City Song Summit 2023, where change-makers, musicians, and the audience converse in real dialogue about the music industry and mental wellness. The 2024 lineup and dates are out now.