A truly unique fusion of South American shamanic music, Afro-Latin rhythms, soul-tinged vocals and electronic beats, Medicina (June 9th, 2015, Black Swan Sounds) is the brainchild of singer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Harris, who performs under the name IEMANJO (pronounced “yeh-mawn-JOE”).

From parading with the Samba blocos in Brazil’s capitals to studying sacred plant medicines with shamans in the jungles of Colombia, Harris has soaked up the sonic universe of Latin America and spun it into something completely his own. IEMANJO brings the ancient concept of music as medicine into the 21st century, and is designed to heal the soul as much as move the body.

Born in Berkeley, California, Ben Harris grew up in the cultural melting pot of the Bay Area, where he developed an insatiable musical appetite and a discriminating ear as he learned to play the trumpet and various Afro-Latin drums. A move to Seattle in 2007 led to Harris expanding his oeuvre, playing everything from Mariachi and Samba/Bossa Nova to orchestral rock, jazz, and Balinese Gamelan music.

Following the release of “Medicina” on Black Swan Sounds in 2015, IEMANJO began playing international festivals including Cosmic Convergence (Guatemala), Bali Spirit Festival, Wanderlust, Symbiosis Gathering, and more.
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