ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2017, Volume 39 | Page 73

ION Indie Magazine prides itself on having no boundaries in musical genre or geographic reach. Some artists live that way
too. One remarkable performer who encounters no limits is MAGDA GIANNIKOU. She was born in Greece and now leads
her Brooklyn-based band, BANDA MAGDA. The band plays styles from every corner of the globe…Greek folk tunes to
Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando. And they’ve toured just as much – appearing in 22 countries and playing
major festivals all over. She and her bandmates participate in a noted conglomerate of brilliant creatives that make up
what has become known as GroundUP Records. Her band often collaborates with the group that has been central to this
collective, the noted funk band SNARKY PUPPY. It’s a relationship that started when Snarky’s leader MICHAEL LEAGUE
subbed on bass for her one-time, and they’ve been close friends ever since. In fact, two members of his group are also a
part of Magda’s band.
When Banda Magda’s music is playing, you do more than simply hear it, you sense it -- it touches more than just the
sounds, it takes you on a transformative journey to the many places that source the music that influences Magda. Her and
her bandmates remarkably embrace variations of pop and folk music from all around the world. Meanwhile, these textures
and rhythms overlay incredible tight form and driving feel. It’s hard not to get lost when you hear the music of Banda Magda.
Her band can really jam too – perhaps not what many would expect from a group that moves up and down the World music
charts. Extended improvisations throughout the group and even on Magda’s accordion playing are very captivating.
ION Indie was lucky enough to chat with Magda before her Philadelphia show recently.
I asked her, as a musician, at what point in your life did you take such an interest in playing so many diverse styles from all
around the world? Magda responded, “I think it came from an early age, because I used to listen to a lot of diverse music
in my household. My father would listen to a lot of music, my mother is a music teacher. So we would go to listen...from
anything from Brazilian or Malian music, and then we would listen to Greek music, and then we would listen to The
Beatles.”