Beats y Bateria charms with groovy sounds as Pygmalion opener

Chicago band Beats y Bateria kicked off the Pygmalion music festival with an enchanting show at the Krannert Center lobby on Thursday.

The band, which describes itself as a “modern global music trio,” is made up of drummer Daniel Crane, singer Ana Everling and DJ and producer Harold Gonzalez Medina, also known as “AfroQbano.” Only Crane and Everling were present for Thursday’s performance.

“There’s a different element that each of us brings to the table,” Crane said about the global aspect of their music. “We’re exploring unknown territory, there’s not a road map (for us).”

Beats y Bateria plays a mix of Afro-Latin, Romanian and neo-electric sounds. As the performance began, the stage filled with a magical aura, a product of Crane’s hypnotizing drums and Everling’s melodious harmonies.

Everling is originally from Moldova and incorporates her passion for Romanian folklore into the band’s music. One highlight was the song “Paparuda,” inspired by the Romanian rainmaking ritual of the same name. 

“Music was my environment,” Everling said. “I grew up in the middle of it, went to music school, always enjoyed it and worked on my voice and my music with great joy.”

The band’s fairly simple setup on stage five of the Krannert lobby featured only a few colorful lights for ambiance. It made the music stand out, helping the audience immerse themselves in the almost psychedelic tunes.

“I come to Krannert and all their cultural events because I love our diverse community and I love the festivals they have,” audience member Naza Agassi said. “So this event sounded very interesting because I love world music.”

The band played songs across genres, including “Moldovan Disco” from their recently released record “Migratum.” As the title says, disco music from Moldova inspired the song. It starts out as a dance track that turns more soulful with Everling’s voice.

“I came absolutely by accident because my friend was telling me, ‘There is a lovely Romanian singer at Krannert,’” said audience member Elena Negruță, a singer of Romanian origin and friend of Everling. “They’re absolutely fantastic.”

Other highlights were “Bride’s Song,” a more upbeat and lively rendition of a traditional wedding song, and “Dimineata,” an example of “doina” an almost lost genre of music that centers around lyrical chants and spontaneity. 

They ended the evening with “Rosa Morena,” a samba-based track showing off their vocals and drums, inspired by Crane’s musical education in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Blending diverse cultural influences and unique sounds, the duo delivered a captivating show. By the end of their performance, the sonic fusion of Beats y Bateria proved that music truly knows no bounds.

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