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Illusion Motel

by afrobeta

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Illusion Motel on black vinyl housed in a full-color jacket with printed inner sleeve ft. lyrics and additional artwork.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Illusion Motel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 300 

      $25 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
A slow ride on the Seine Sedona in the spring Your hand inside my ring Chocolate covered figs All of the things you said to me All of the lives you wanna lead I don’t want it, I don’t want it All of the things you said to me All of the lives you wanna lead I don’t want it, I don’t want it All of the things Just the hint of a smile from you All of the things Bike ride into the sunset Rolling on polished floors A cool dip in the Smith Loving the one you’re with The vibe ahead of it All of the things you said to me All of the lives you wanna lead I don’t want it, I don’t want it All of the things you said to me All of the lives you wanna lead I don’t want it, I don’t want it All of the things Just the hint of a smile from you All of the things Bike ride into the sunset All of the things Take me on a long drive with you All of the things Share a tent at Bonarroo All of the things All of the things All of the things All of the things
2.
Who You 02:54
Oh no You gonna be yourself You can’t be no one else Take more All of the strife I see Living inside of me Oh no Wanting to change the rest Before changing myself Take more I see you and me Creating empathy Make up your mind And decide who you’re living for It’s just a game that we play Always wanting more All of the paper we chase Always wanting more Make up your mind And decide who you living for Waking up every day It’s so easy to see All the fault in someone else Baby, don’t you agree I’m not trying to put it on you but it’s true When you point your finger out There’s three more pointing back at you Now you act like you don’t know who you were dealing with Looking at the red flags, you’re not seeing ‘em Colorblinded by what you wanted Now you got effects Make up your mind And decide who you’re living for It’s just a game that we play Always wanting more All of the paper we chase Always wanting more Make up your mind And decide who you living for All of the paper we chase Always wanting more Make up your mind And decide who you living for All of the paper we chase Always wanting more
3.
I will always try Step into the night Open up your face Thinking you’re the only One who makes mistakes You bend but you don’t break I crave the earthquake I, whoa Tell me that you love me And I’m still on your mind I was always dreaming lover Till you and I Will you be the one to hold me Say it’ll be all right I could never tell if you were down for the night Looking everywhere But never inside I could only dare But why would I try I know that we swerve Too late and hit the curb Loving just the words Here, then gone like a bird don’t know what it's worth Gold hiding in the dirt Dig it down with me Pick away at the debris I, whoa Tell me that you love me And I’m still on your mind I was always dreaming lover Till you and I Will you be the one to hold me Say it’ll be all right I could never tell if you were down for the night Tell me that you love me And I’m still on your mind I was always dreaming lover Till you and I Will you be the one to hold me Say it’ll be all right I could never tell if you were down for the night Looking everywhere But never inside I could only dare But why would I try
4.
Chancletazo 03:10
Yo no se lo que hice Pero sé que me duele Chancletazo, Chancletazo Ella se viró y me metió un Chancletazo, Chancletazo Eso’ lo que pasa cuando tú me jodes Chancletazo, Chancletazo Ella se viró y me metió un Chancletazo, Chancletazo Te lo mereces, te lo buscaste Porque te portaste muy mal Chancletazo Que no se te olvide, te meto un cintazo Porque te portaste muy mal Chancletazo Ya sé porque me pegaste Con la chancleta Me escapé de casa, en la madrugada Me fui para la Moksha, y tu durmiendo Yo regresé a tiempo, pero te enteraste No te me hagas el loco Sabes muy bien lo que haces Me dicen con quien tú andas Ya yo sé quien eres No te me vengas con cuentos No pienso en ti hace tiempo Mamí dice que un clavo Saca otro clavo Te lo mereces, te lo buscaste Porque te portaste muy mal Chancletazo Que no se te olvide, te meto un cintazo Porque te portaste muy mal Chancletazo
5.
A.I.E. 02:24
The way you bass is so healing AIE Sweat drippin’ down off the ceiling AIE Closing my eyes, body’s reeling Your touch tingling my spine Fingers diggin’ in my slime Poppin’ like rice crispy treats Everybody’s watchin’ me So much, bubblin’ inside DIY recipe time Clickin’, walkin’ on wet streets A.I.E. inside of me Smackin’ jelly glittery Nom nom cookie facing me
6.
Who can you trust Boys all sound the same Telling you one thing You’re still to blame Tryin’ my best to really explain You made your mind up I lost again She’s too big, too rough, too loud Bit the apple now cop her style She too meek, not mill too weak Catch me live up in the street Your skirt is too short Your lips are too red Your heels are too high Is that what he said? Just do your job, Jen Button your shirt, Jen Put your head down, Jen Just do your job then Get on your knees, Jen Get up and breathe, Jen Just do your job, Jen For less than men, Jen Who can you trust Boys all sound the same Telling you one thing You’re still to blame Tryin’ my best to really explain You made your mind up I lost again
7.
This goes out to all the mangos out there The sweet ones, the green ones And the downright stinky ones She picks the mangos from the tree Then she brings them over to me They’re so delicious we eat them slowly You know I’m lyin’, we eat them quickly She picks the mangos, he plays the bongos Who picks the mangos? She picks the mangos! She picks the mangos, he plays the bongos Who plays the bongos? He plays the bongos! I’ll take another mango, please I’ll take another mango, please From your tree
8.
Warrior 03:51
I can feel my enemies haunting me I create them wanting everything I see Warrior Princess Queen This is who I am in my dreams Heavy In my chest I feel gravity The weight of the demands I make on me Sleepyhead, lazy This is who I am when I’m me It’s simply an effect of what I cause Everybody’s out here blaming God Begging when u pray for what you need Self-reflect, intellect That truth sets you free You’re perfect in every way The light in you is the love in me I’m the mistake, you can’t erase I love you more every day There’s nothing more that you need to be You’re the mistake, I can’t erase Not sure what the future has in store for me Part of me is afraid of what I cannot see Warrior Princess Queen Reminds me who I need to be Warm inside your arms, I feel safety I know you got my back and that’s security Sleepyhead, lazy You’re never even judging when I’m me It’s simply an effect of what I cause Everybody’s out here blaming God Begging when u pray for what you need Self-reflect, intellect That truth sets you free You’re perfect in every way The light in you is the love in me I’m the mistake, you can’t erase I see my true self in your face You’re the mistake,I can’t erase You’re perfect in every way The light in you is the love in me There’s nothing more, to do or say I see my true self in your face You’re the mistake,I can’t erase
9.
Hold me, Lord Take me through The darkest night, dark is too long Hold me close Take me through The darkest night, dark is too long So dark in me, so deep I cannot breathe Surrender to be freed, the light is what I need And I lean on your strength Can’t do this alone So many questions I can’t answer It was too soon to let you go Hold me, Lord Take me through The darkest night, dark is too long Hold me close Take me through The darkest night, dark is too long I’m so glad I found ya It’s meant to be, simplicity Some day soon we are gonna be so free Hold me close Take me through The darkest night, dark is too long
10.
Rio Miami 02:35
Jardín hermoso del occidente Donde el señor quisiera dejar La maravilla de sus pinceles en cielo, tierra, mujer y mar De Hialeah, Pequeña Habana Sonora linda, flores y luz La maravilla todo el encanto la gracia plena Eso eres tu Río Miami, que lindo eres Del Okeechobee, al Overtown Y la ternura de tus mujeres ¡Ay! pero quita pesares A yo me voy a Río Miami Motivo dulce de mi cantar Tierra de musica y poesía Bajó sus palmas quiero soñar Policromía maravillosa, de tu campiña que es un vergel A del tabaco quedan tus vegas Rica la piña caña de miel Eres encanto del alma mía Te lleva ardiente mi corazón Y no hay un día que a Dios no pide Que te bendiga plena de amor Pinar del Río qué lindo eres De Guanajay hasta Guane Y la ternura de tus mujeres Ay, pero quita pesares Ay, yo me voy a Pinar del Río Motivo dulce de mi cantar Tierra de musica y poesía Bajo sus palmas quiero soñar Eh, Pinar del Río qué lindo eres De mi mamá la tierra natal Ay, yo me voy a Pinar del Río Bajo sus palmas quiero soñar Eh, policromía maravillosa, de tu campiña que es un vergel A yo me voy A yo me voy
11.
Only you know Givin’ me that look, I know you’re ready to go Trust that you know Givin’ me that look, you know I’m ready to go But I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own Let the beast come out Cuz’ I’m hungry now Silence is loud and it won’t come out I feel like dancin’ now Feel me up downtown Huntin’ the crowd and I’m comin’ out Another déjà vu, another rendezvous It’s keepin’ me up and I can’t come down I think you talk too much Sit down shut up Watchin’ me now like I’m on the prowl Only you know Givin’ me that look, I know you’re ready to go Trust that you know Givin’ me that look, you know I’m ready to go But I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own Another déjà vu, another rendezvous It’s keepin’ me up and I can’t come down I think you talk too much Sit down shut up Watchin’ me now like I’m on the prowl I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own I’ll just keep dancin’ I’ll just keep dancin’ on my own
12.
Papelazo 03:00
Papelazo, en la disco Sinvergüenza, que tú piensas Equivocado, emborrachado No tengo pelo en la lengua Te estás portando mal Tú eres niña de tu casa No una cualquiera de la calle Y aquí me llegas a las siete Ni un minuto más tarde Guau, Alabao, ten cuidao Hay un elemento raro Guau, ten cuidao Alabao, vamos a portanos mal Papelazo, en la disco Papagayo, tremendo falló Piropos viejos, en mis directos Cada loco con su tema El tuyo no suena Tú eres niño de tu casa Pegao a la pantalla Aburrido y troleando Guau, Alabao, ten cuidao Hay un elemento raro Guau, ten cuidao Alabao, vamos a pórtanos mal Tremendo papelazo Tremendo papelazo
13.
The Answer 02:33
There is an answer It’s coming in waves There is a future We can’t replace I am the answer Coming in waves I am the future Breathing in place Sun over Miami You just keep on shining Sparklin’ on the ocean Ignoring that I’m dying Moon over Miami Risin’ with the tide Castin’ teeth and shadows With tails that bite There is an answer It’s coming in waves I am the answer I am the answer

about

Things are not always as they appear, and it’s up to us to approach this as a REinterpretation instead of a MISinterpretation. This is the essence of illusion, which Afrobeta invites all to enter on their fourth full-length album, Illusion Motel. A title initially inspired by an actual physical sign, its long-form development has rendered it symbolic, with songs and stories taking on new shapes as life and its time(line) became starkly unpredictable. Still, along the way, there was one constant to facilitate navigation – a vibrant 15-year artistic partnership between composer/producer Tony “Smurphio” Laurencio and vocalist/lyricist Cuci Amador that’s landed them on some of the world’s biggest stages, with unyielding support and ecstatic anticipation over what might come next.

Throughout Illusion Motel, Smurphio’s signature timbraI tendencies are instantly identifiable; aqueous synth leads effortlessly navigate throughout rhythmic mazes of snapping & shuffling percussion, blanketed in painterly strokes of bass (this is Miami-made music, after all). Cuci’s emotive vocal & lyrical lines provide a challenging counterpoint, creating a tension too complex for standard-issue pop - a welcome sensory distortion, easily memorable even after only one taste. While thirteen tracks might otherwise prove a laborious listen, Afrobeta’s penchant for brevity, micro/macro sequencing and stylistic tourism leave no room for incidentals, coalescing into a tightly-curated affair.

Visual concepts and artwork by longtime friend & collaborator Mariana Mendoza further flesh out Illusion Motel’s themes through subtle manipulations blurring analog and digital forms, beckoning double- and triple-takes, again inviting REinterpretation. While outwardly fun and almost always danceable, Illusion Motel is ultimately about guiding our perceptions towards greater heights – approaching fear with hope, embracing the stark emptiness of loss crashing alongside waves of unknown futures, remembering the playful often stems from the serious, and the mystical is what you make it.

credits

released October 29, 2020

All songs composed, arranged, produced and performed by Afrobeta, Cristina Garcia (ASCAP) and Anthony Laurencio (BMI)
Featuring special guests:
Lyrics: Ben Shahoulian ("Down for the Night" and "The Mango Song")
Guitars: Aaron Lebos ("Warrior")
Background vocals: Sara, Michelle, Melissa and Mia Checa ("Darkest Night")

"Rio Miami" is an adaptation of “Me Voy a Pinar Del Rio” performed by Celia Cruz y La Sonora Matancera, written and composed by Néstor Pinelo Cruz (Torpin Music)
"The Answer" originally appeared on Archival Feedback’s compilation, moon Over miami and appears in the documentary film, “The Fellowship of the Spring”

Mastered by Joe Lambert
Recorded in Miami, FL at the 36 Trap
Artwork by Mariana Mendoza (Fig.M)

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afrobeta Miami, Florida

Miami duo Afrobeta has been tearing up dance floors since 2006. Formed by lyricist/vocalist Cuci Amador & synth-centric producer/arranger Smurphio, their mutual love of catchy songwriting, Cuban pastries, and dancing til' 5 AM, is what initially inspired them to make music together. They’ve toured internationally, performing at some of the largest music festivals & venues in the world. ... more

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