In 2011, a group of Pilsen (Chicago) -based artists had the urge to explore their respective loves for cumbia and created what would eventually become CumbiaSazo— in essence a “Future Latinx”-oriented DJ/soundsystem crew and party arts incubator exploring the intersections of cultural heritage & club culture. Tapping into the “Nu Cumbia” and “Global Bass” undercurrents worldwide, residents DJ Itzi, VDJ caliXta, and MC/dancer Tifflove have pushed the movement forward, performing regularly as a soundsystem while also curating community-oriented parties & fundraisers involving visual artists & vendors contributing everything from food, fashion & handcrafts to live painting, jewelry & stage art installations. CumbiaSazo crew along with the party have wandered about Chicago and the US sporadically and nomadically, setting off some buzzed-about loft and warehouse happenings where live arts, amped up visuals, musical risks and creative surprises have taken root. Sold out shows at Thalia Hall and continually to this day at Double Door have ensued, cementing CumbiaSazo into a Chicago Reader “Best of Chicago” pick and what’s arguably the largest monthly global bass party in the US. In late summer of 2015, the crew embarked on their first US tour performing in 13 cities across the midwest, southwest & west coast and in 2016 presented the first ever CumbiaSazo Family Fest with over 5,000 in attendance celebrating music, family and culture. With new special events & releases en route, artists with the project continue to collaborate locally while reaching beyond Chicago- all for the sake of rocking crowds in new ways, celebrating diversity, and “scene” building for a city & region where culture-based projects are often isolated or underrepresented.