18 August 3-9, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Oh, Brother Calussa’s Andrew and Gino Gomez share culturally rich rhythms and beats with a global audience. BY CAROLINE VAL G etting into business with family can always be a gamble, but the gamble has paid off for brothers Andrew and Gino Gomez. Known professionally as Calussa, the Miami-bred, Cuban-American producers share their passion for the cultur- ally rich rhythms and beats they could find in their backyard with a global audience. Andrew and Gino’s journey into the world of electronic music began nearly 12 years ago under a different alias. But as their sound evolved, the brothers felt a name change was in order — and that’s when Calussa was born. “We were getting bored of our old, stereo- typical electronic music back then,” Gino says. “We started slowly transitioning over, and we started this project from scratch and kind of discarded our old, you know, project that we actually spent almost six years building.” The result is a fusion of Afro, tech, and Latin influences that has captivated audi- ences worldwide. Calussa’s sound gained traction quickly, and Andrew and Gino quickly found themselves spinning for crowds worldwide, from Dubai to Mykonos and Barcelona to Miami. But it wasn’t just their DJ sets that gar- nered attention. Tracks like “San Juan,” “Besame,” and “More Life” soared on Beatport’s global charts, and renowned producers like Black Coffee, Blond:Ish, and Vintage Culture took notice. The siblings’ most recent single, “Fell in Luv,” featuring Carlita, exemplifies the ever- evolving style that has come to exemplify their career. Release on Diplo’s record label, Higher Ground, the collaboration brings to- gether a unique mix of classic vibes with techno and house elements. “We were playing in Dubai at the same time as Carlita, and we were just having cof- fee together, and we showed her the record,” Andrew says of the track. “She really loved it, and after she worked on it a little more, it be- came something really special. It’s definitely outside our typical sound, but it’s a sound we’re very excited about as we’re pushing into a new wave. Diplo’s label has done an amazing job of pushing the record. He has an amazing team and an amazing label. So it’s re- ally special for us.” Calussa’s impact on the dance music scene also y extends to their imprint, Hurry Up Slowly. Originally starting as an event brand, the label has evolved into a music platform and an opportunity to nurture emerging talent. “Our whole catalogue has been pretty well received internationally,” Andrew shares. “We hear our label tracks always being played no matter where we are. So really, the label’s music is so interna- tional, it’s so world- wide, it speaks to such a wide audience. I think that’s something that we really curated, almost not intention- ally. It’s just a sound that is a really global sound that we’ve al- ways been inspired by from our roots.” With a new tour on the horizon, the broth- ers are eager to introduce their Miami sound to audiences far and wide. Calussa’s journey is one of passion, dedication, and their roots. As Andrew and Gino explore new sonic territo- ries, one thing remains certain: Their music will continue to unite audiences worldwide with its infectious rhythm and timeless appeal. “In August, we’re gonna have our first tour in Asia. We’ve never toured in Asia or brought our music to Asia,” Gino adds. “It’s gonna be a very interesting experience to see how our music and our label from Miami is going to translate over there. That’s definitely some- thing we’re looking forward to, and just pretty much evolving our sound, bigger col- laborations, and hopefully just growing the label into a more mature sound.” [email protected] Brothers Andrew and Gino Gomez make up the duo Calussa. Photo by Kenneth Lesley “WE HEAR OUR LABEL TRACKS ALWAYS BEING PLAYED NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.” | CROSSFADE | t Music
