The Mauskovic Dance Band

The Mauskovic Dance Band

The Mauskovic Dance Band is an Amsterdam-based group active since 2016. It centres on producer and multi-instrumentalist Nicola Mauskovic, who begins the project after working as a drummer in a range of other acts, including Turkish group Altin Gün, a tour with the Zambian revival band W.I.T.C.H., and a worldwide tour with psych-pop musician Jacco Gardner. He also forms the dance-focused duo Bruxas with Gardner, releasing it on Dekmantel.

Style and influences

The group combines cumbia and space disco, alongside Afro-Caribbean champeta rhythms. Its sound also draws on Afro-Colombian styles such as champeta, palenque and cumbia, plus picó soundsystem culture, Afro-disco and the underground producer scene in Amsterdam. Vintage drum machines and synthesisers sit alongside Afro-Latin rhythms and guitar riffs, giving the music an electronic edge.

Formation and releases

Nicola Mauskovic starts with studio experiments that lead to several 7-inch singles on Swiss label Bongo Joe Records in 2017 under the name The Mauskovic Dance Band. He then brings in long-time collaborators Donnie Mauskovic on vocals, keys and effects, Em Nix Mauskovic on guitar, synth and percussion, and Mano Mauskovic on bass to move the project from recordings to live performance. Juan Hundred, described as an underground cumbia producer, later joins on drums.

Line-up

The group’s verified members are Mano Hollestelle and Lyckle de Jong. The project has also included Nicola Mauskovic, Donnie Mauskovic, Em Nix Mauskovic and Juan Hundred in the roles described above.

Live activity

The Mauskovic Dance Band tours extensively through Europe in 2017 and appears at festival and club dates. It also performs at Eurosonic Noorderslag in 2018, alongside a wider tour of the Netherlands tied to the release of its EP.