Carlos Ronda Mas - Amaphupho (2026) [Hi-Res]

Amaphupho is the debut solo album by Spanish percussionist, educator, and composer Carlos Ronda Mas, released on 1 May 2026 on his own independent imprint Sowing Sounds. The title derives from the Zulu word for "dreams" — and the name encapsulates the album's core intention: to restore the act of dreaming to its rightful place, affirming that through dreams we learn, live, and shape our reality.
Born in the province of Valencia, Ronda Mas forged his musical identity across continents — from symphonic percussion in Spain to studying Cuban percusion under the legendary Miguel "Angá" Díaz, completing his degree at the Liceo Superior Conservatory in Barcelona, and spending a formative year at Havana's Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA, 2007–2008). Collaborations with Omar Sosa, Childo Tomás, and a wide roster of world music artists deepened his immersion in African and Afro-Latin traditions — the synthesis that underpins Amaphupho.
The recording brings together more than twenty musicians, each a notable figure in music rooted in African heritage, united by years of shared paths or chance encounters. Ronda Mas deliberately centred African cultural diversity at the heart of the project, honouring what these traditions gave him: pulsating rhythms, penetrating melodies, and lyrics designed to carry listeners into their most internal, profound, and intimate nocturnal imaginings. The album was celebrated on International Jazz Day and supported through a Wemakeit crowdfunding campaign, with backers receiving exclusive early access to the release.

Tracklist:
1-1 Carlos Ronda Mas - REM #1 [1:24]
1-2 Carlos Ronda Mas - 9 Colores [7:23]
1-3 Carlos Ronda Mas - PO210 [4:18]
1-4 Carlos Ronda Mas - Todo o Nada [5:35]
1-5 Carlos Ronda Mas - REM #2 [1:50]
1-6 Carlos Ronda Mas - M'buco [4:37]
1-7 Carlos Ronda Mas - Dreamin' [7:01]
1-8 Carlos Ronda Mas - Sophi [4:02]
1-9 Carlos Ronda Mas - REM #3 [1:05]
1-10 Carlos Ronda Mas - 7C16 [4:27]
1-11 Carlos Ronda Mas - Amaphupho [9:10]
1-12 Carlos Ronda Mas - Una palabra [4:25]