"Take the music of Colombia, mix it with Latin jazz and let it flow into modern funk and you've got Candelaria" (CBC Radio Canada). The Benavides brothers; William and Miguel, created this group in 1998, and have been bringing the heat to the Vancouver music scene with their original music. Currently, Candelaria is working on their second album. After the great experience of "Equilibrio Emocional" the band is ready to go big with their next recording. Candelaria incorporates jazz, pop and rock with rhythmic elements from traditional Latin styles and dances such as 'La cumbia' (a traditional dance from the Atlantic coast of Colombia, influenced by African beats), 'Soca' (a modern hybrid of Calypso and East Indian rhythms) and 'bambuco' (a Colombian national dance with origins in African and Spanish cultures). In Addition, the group has begun to explore Vallenato, an accordion based style which the group is uniquely suited to, and one of Candelaria's biggest influences on this genre is Carlos Vives. Full of energy on stage, and showcasing their exotic sound, Candelaria has been performing for over five years in local clubs, festivals and at private parties. Their first CD "Equilibrio Emocional" Emotional Equilibrium (recorded on their independent label Mucura Records) was officially released in December 2002 at The Backstage Lounge in Granville Island. The founding members of Candelaria are the brothers Miguel and William Benavides. Coming from a musical family they have been surrounded by music their whole lives. William began playing the guitar at eleven years old and his brother Miguel accompanied his early efforts at playing Beatles songs, by drumming on the kitchen pots. Being in Colombia was not an obstacle for getting other musical influences in their early years. The Police, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton where a few of the many "international" acts that were heard in Colombia and were a big part of their musical development. By the time they finished high school in Colombia, William and Miguel knew the basics of music theory and music history. For several years, they played with many local jazz and rock bands before moving to Vancouver, where they both enrolled in music schools. It was in Vancouver that they began to explore their own musical heritage while continuing their formal music education. Acts like Santana, Juanes, El Bloque and even the very acclaimed Shakira, have made them realized that putting their own identity and culture in their music is one of the most rewarding experiences and have prove to be very successful. In their school years in Vancouver William and Miguel met Russell Shoberg and Alison Jenkins. Russell has been working as a freelance musician in the Vancouver area for over ten years. He has worked with the pop/rock group Bif Naked, composed music for films (including Disney's 'Blank Check') while continuously working as a studio musician to earn a living. Alison Jenkins, a self taught musician with extensive experience in music theatre joined the band in 2000, playing accordion, clarinet, trumpet and adding vocal accompaniment. She has been a music director and has composed and performed in various theatre companies such as 'Chemainus Theatre, 'Leaky Heaven Circus', 'Cirque Poule' the Vancouver Fringe Festival, and Kaleidoscope Theatre. Thanks to the Internet, Candelaria is able to distribute their music online. As a result of this, they have begun to gather virtual fans around the world." Musically, we will always keep progressing, experimenting and changing as long as we feel satisfied and challenged by our music. On a conceptual level, we want to be seen as a bridge between cultures, languages and musical styles, commercial and traditional. We perform a style that is accessible, enjoyable and offers something musically interesting to all listeners."- William Benavides Once Candelaria records their second album by June 2004, the band plans to promote it by playing locally and nationally across Canada. Candelaria / Contact William Benavides Tel: 604-318-9418 e-mail: candelaria@shaw.ca