Battle of Santiago (band)

Lore & Background

Battle of Santiago released their debut album Full Colour in 2012 under their label Made With Pencil Crayons. The album reached number one on the weekly Canadian college radio charts for International music and stayed in the national Top 20 for four months. It also reached number one in local markets including Guelph and Calgary, and number three on the Jazz charts on CFRU in Guelph, Ontario. The release was selected for CJSR Edmonton's best of 2012 list and reached number 13 on Earshot's Top 20 for 2012 on the International music charts.

In 2012, the band released their second album Followed by Thousands, which became the number-one hit on the weekly Canadian college radio charts for International music on CJSR in Edmonton, holding number five for two months on the top 20 Earshot charts for International music in late 2012. The album also charted in the United States, reaching number 18 on KALX, with tracks featured on Latino USA. That same year, the band was nominated for a SiriusXM Indie Award for World Music Artist of the Year.

The band has opened for artists such as Cadence Weapon, Saul Williams, and Femi Kuti, and has performed at numerous festivals including Hillside Festival, Canadian Music Week, NXNE, and the Northern Lights Festival Boréal, where they debuted their fourth album La Ultima, released in 2021.

Reader's Guide

Battle of Santiago occupies a distinctive niche in Canadian music as an Afro-Cuban post-rock ensemble, blending rhythmic and melodic elements from Afro-Cuban traditions with the expansive textures of post-rock. Their early success on college radio charts, particularly with Full Colour and Followed by Thousands, established them as a notable act within the Canadian independent music scene. The band's rotating cast of musicians, led by Michael Owen, allowed for a fluid and collaborative creative process, drawing on a wide pool of vocalists, percussionists, and wind players. Their nomination for a SiriusXM Indie Award in 2013 signaled recognition beyond local markets, while performances at major festivals and opening slots for internationally known artists like Femi Kuti underscored their growing reach. The release of Queen & Judgement during the COVID-19 pandemic marked a continued commitment to their craft despite global disruption. Their legacy lies in their fusion of cultural influences and their persistent presence on Canadian and US college radio, reflecting a grassroots appeal that sustained their career over a decade.

Did You Know?

• The band's debut album Full Colour was released under their own label, Made With Pencil Crayons.
• Full Colour reached number one on the weekly Canadian college radio charts for International music and stayed in the national Top 20 for four months.
• In 2013, Battle of Santiago was nominated for a SiriusXM Indie Award for World Music Artist of the Year.
• The band's fourth album is La Ultima, released in 2021.