“Ni Chicha Ni Limoná” takes its name from a Colombian saying about indecision, referring to a lack of a firm stance regarding a particular subject. On the song, Bogotá-based Masilva gives us a presumably autobiographical list of extremes to which he doesn’t belong. The ambivalence he presents is essentially his version of Facundo Cabral’s “No Soy De Aquí.” His lyrics resonate and the song is full of defiant statements, most notably: “yo no soy rockero tampoco ni soy cumbianchero.” He’s right–he’s something else altogether. The track features melodies and lyrics that recall the structure of early cumbia and champeta, with dub-heavy delays on vocals and instruments, backed by a melodic guitar. Masilva calls this combination “electrova,” and it sounds fresh, joining many of the forward-thinking sounds coming out of Colombia.
It’s been four years since we heard a track by Masilva in the Chicha Morada Sounds Vol. 5 mixtape assembled by Veltrac Music. Judging by his latest single, it seems like he’s finally found his place.