UJI

Uji (Luis Maurette) is an electronic producer and musician born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A nomad since the age of two, he has lived throughout the American continent, growing up amidst a diversity of sounds and cultures. Uji’s music reflects his upbringing and has roots in indigenous, folkloric and African ritual music but is also a expression of the modern world, borrowing from the aesthetics and sound design of electronic music. Uji’s music is the alchemy that results from merging the seemingly opposite worlds of the ancient and the modern in a ritual of chants and dance. Back in 1999 his fascination with electronic music brought him to Berklee School of Music where he delved into synthesis, programming and sound design. In parallel he immersed himself in ritual music, which led him into the mountains and jungles to participate in indigenous ceremonies and rituals, to make field recordings of the birds and rivers, to learn rhythms and dances, to discover ancient practices and to listen to the ancestral voice of nature. All of these deep experiences have been imprinted onto his being and now flow out through his music. Uji’s debut single, a highly acclaimed remix of Ecuadorian artist Mateo Kingman, was recently released with AYA Records. His second single Romper el Hechizo, featuring Argentine trio Fémina was released on Mexican boutique label Shika Shika, and has garnered recognition from Red Bull Music Academy and Univision, among others. Other releases include remixes for Nicolá Cruz (vinyl release on Multi Culti), Wildlight (Jumpsuit Records), Petrona Martinez (Chaco World Music), Lagartijeando (Wonderwheel), Raio (Shika Shika), Jimena Angel and Kaleema (Tropical Twista) as well as original tracks featured on a compilation by labels Nómade Records. He was also half of the pioneering duo Lulacruza since its inception in 2005 until its end in 2016, with whom he has released 5 albums, a feature film and visual album by director Vincent Moon, as well as a remix series by a worldwide mix of producers. Lulacruza boldly embraced the intersection of electronic and folk music, forming part of the South American new folklore movement. Lulacruza has been released by labels such as ZZK Records (Arg), Jumpsuit Records (USA), Acqua Records (Arg), Black Swan Sounds (USA), Club del Disco (Arg), Frente Bolivarista (Brazil), and Fertil Discos (Arg). Their raw transformative performances have taken them to perform in festivals and concert halls in over a dozen countries.