The first time I listened to MAKUTA I immediately thought, “wow, this sounds exactly like what a family band from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s would sound like today.” Little did I know I hit the nail on the head.
MAKUTA is made up of four family members: Doug, Jane, Aleata, and Rose -- whose last name is, of course, Makuta. The siblings all play a variety of instruments that come together to create the modern family band (with a bit of an indie vibe).
MAKUTA’s new single “Straight Outta Love,” pulls from the best of the family band stereotypes: the catchy chorus, the upbeat melody, some clink-y percussion, and best of all, the sing-along refrain of “na nas” near the end of the song -- the hallmark of any catchy anthem.
But the 70’s vibes and family collaboration isn’t to say MAKUTA is straight up Partridge Family, the band pulls in aspects of soul, funk, rock, alongside the vein of classic radio pop that runs through all of their songs. They have previously described their music as “a little bit of everything,” and I would say that’s a fairly accurate assessment.
The band is now based in Brooklyn, but as a military family, they have lived all over the world. This with no doubt has contributed to the blend of sounds and genres their music draws from. The members of MAKUTA all play multiple instruments and have said that their band works because they all have an individual love of music. It’s this foundational principle of musical ability and pure love for the art that allows the band to play to both ends of the spectrum, experimental alternative or upbeat pop, without coming across as disingenuous or try-hard with their sound.
Photo Via Downtown Magazine
The future looks big for the band, and not just because their songs have been featured on CBS recently. The band has been signed by Timbaland’s imprint Bluestone on their newly released single and are quickly growing their sound and fan base.
“Straight Outta Love” dropped September 30 and can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon or YouTube!
Connect with MAKUTA on social media! Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
