Pacha Massive Biography

Based in the Bronx and formed in 2005, Pacha Massive are a Latin alternative band incorporating elements of Cuban son, reggae, dancehall, dub, hip-hop, house, Colombian cumbia, and drum’n’bass dance rhythms. The core of the group consists of Dominican-born keyboardist, guitarist, producer, and writer DJ Nova and Colombian-born bassist and writer Maya. The pair, who met in New York while working on a project with Iván Benavides, fleshes out the instrumental lineup with from five to 12 other musicians when performing live. Pacha Massive, whose name is based on the term pachamama, meaning Mother Earth, played their first gig at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2004, opening a show for rock en español favorites Aterciopelados. They also performed with Ozomatli, Sidestepper, and Yerba Buena. In 2005 they were named winners of the Latin Alternative Music Conference battle of the bands. Pacha Massive signed to Nacional Records in 2007 and released their debut album, All Good Things, that year. Their song “Don’t Let Go” was featured on the soundtrack of the film La Mujer de Mi Hermano.