Citizen Mundi

Citizen Mundi One love By MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer 3/2/2007 Citizen Mundi takes its international lineup and message to the next step Citizen Mundi is through being a bar band and has taken its first step toward the next level by making its first album, mastered by a recording engineer who has worked with artists ranging from Santana to Dave Matthews Band. The seven-man band, formed in 2004, cut its teeth playing shows in Tulsa while saving up the cash to record "No Translation," a melding of the band's live sound and collaborative songwriting into a self-produced album that captures the full gamut of the international band's message. "We're not a bar band anymore," said vocalist/guitarist Jean-Michel Balaguer. "You know, we've done that to prove ourselves and I think we've done what we needed to do. It's time to step it up a notch, you know." But Citizen Mundi is a bit more complex than the bar-band tag. Bars are simply the place to play when you're starting out. The band, whose name means "world citizen," takes its songs, sung in four different languages, and throws them into a funky reggae/latin rock mix that has made the band a hit with local music fans. While the band appreciates that reception, it uses its music to advance a message -- not an agenda, as its members point out -- of love, global consciousness and tolerance. Mundi wants you to party and feel good, but the band's members also want you to know that what goes around on this tiny planet comes around. The band recorded "No Translation" off and on since 2005 at keyboardist Wilfredo Nanita's house. But the band realized it needed someone outside the group to master the album, Balaguer said. "Mastering" is the process by which an album's parts are merged into a master recording from which all copies are drawn. Trombonist Michael Drummond, an Owasso High School graduate and University of Tulsa student, knew engineer Drew Lavyne from his days performing with Blast, a touring performance group of drummers and horn players. Although it cost a pretty penny to work with Lavyne, the group is very happy with the result. "It's pretty amazing to have your first CD, have everything on there, just be something that you like, you know, or something that you love," said the group's bassist, Eric Bass. "And then we've all played in different projects before, you know, when you're constrained by time and money and you have to get up in the studio and record it and get all of it knocked out. "There's always stuff that you hear and you kind of cringe at, you know. Well, on this disc, there are no moments like that." "No Translation" features songs the band has tested live. The catchy reggae numbers "Ladrones" and "Places" pop and sway with bright horns from Drummond and Tedder while Balaguer urges a love of our fellow man. Those songs as well as the dance number "Baila Planeta" offer a pop juxtaposition to the more experimental vibes of the keyboard-driven instrumental song "Chan" and its nylon string-guitared brother, "Despierta." Further varying the mix is the accordion-laced "Blame the World," in which a disillusioned Balaguer asks the listener to bring him back to what initially inspired him. The band also is a melting pot of nationalities. Balaguer is originally from France; Nanita, the Dominican Republic; Erick Donis the drummer and percussionist Sergio D'Alonzo are Venezuelan, while Bass, Drummond and saxophonist Ryan Tedder are Americans. And like most local bands, Citizen Mundi balances its music with its musicians' day jobs. Nanita is an electrical engineer. Drummond is a stay-at-home father. Bass is a fire alarm technician. Balaguer works at an accounting firm and Tedder is a University of Tulsa student who works at Radio Shack. Donis works in a meat factory and D'Alonzo works on a farm. "But at the end of the day, we're all equal," Balaguer said. Audiences have had no problem identifying with Citizen Mundi, despite different languages, Balaguer said. But, when asked if fans drawn to the party-like atmosphere of its performances understood the band's message, he said he wasn't sure. " We're hoping that it is," he said. "But, I think now a lot of our fans are getting it and now with the CD coming out with the lyrics in there, it's going to even increase the awareness of what we're trying to say and the message that we're trying to give." To release the album, the band started its own label, ZenZen Records, part of what Drummond calls a self-sustaining operation that aids the band in the business side of its music. The album marks the beginning of a big year for Citizen Mundi, one in which the group will be performing at the Lawrence, Kan., Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival this June after winning a recent band competition at the Cain's Ballroom. Also, Drummond said the band will start recording and videoing all of its performances possibly for use at a later date. All those efforts are aimed at increasing the band's audience. With, "No Translation," Mundi now has something it can use to get bigger gigs and connect with more fans, Balaguer said. Starting Monday, the album will be available at Flytrap Records and in April at Starship Records & Tapes and Under the Mooch. CITIZEN MUNDI CD RELEASE SHOW When: 8 p.m. Saturday, with opener Sam and the Stylees. Where: Liquidz, 18th Street and Boston Avenue. Admission: Free