Since 2020, when @piedrademar and I had the incredible opportunity to travel for the first time to the home of the Huottoja community, they’ve held a special place in our hearts and our relationship has grown into a meaningful connection. We’ve come to see ourselves as part of their family, learning from one another, sharing stories and appreciating every moment we can be together whether in the jungle or in the city.
In the years since that first visit, our trips to the community have become more frequent. Each time we’ve gained new perspectives, understanding not only their way of life but also the challenges they face. And through it all, we’ve had the privilege of dreaming alongside them, imagining a future where music, language, and culture could intertwine in ways we hadn’t yet explored.
Vanessa and I are musical beings, so naturally, when we first arrived we brought it with us. It wasn’t long before we dreamed of sharing music with the children, encouraging them to make music in their own language, to express themselves in ways that felt true to who they are. But as with all the most beautiful things in life, the magic unfolded through sincronicity and flow. Last December, that energy became tangible, and the musical journey we had envisioned began to take shape.
One of our favorite moments with the children is when they invite us to the river. “Aje, aje!” they call, meaning "river, river," telling us to join them in the water (ajiya). Vanessa, always singing, had started to sing a simple phrase with those words to them months before. To our surprise, they remembered the song, and it became one of their favorites. It was in those moments, surrounded by the jungle, the water, our friends and the children that our first song together came to life as a cocreation, blending music, language, and community.
That was just the beginning. Shortly after, we had the privilege of welcoming Jhon, a beloved member of our Amazonian family, to the city for the first time. (shoutout to @hijodelsol for spark this first journey )His visit was not only an opportunity to explore the city but also to dive deeper into music—recording the first drafts of Huottoja songs and learning about rhythm, melody and harmony. We even gifted him a beautiful red guitar. And of course, we made sure to introduce him to the flavors of the city, from local ice cream to fresh fruits, and took him on a journey through both the historical and natural wonders of the capital.
Just this month, we had the joy of hosting Jhon once again, but this time he brought along his beautiful three-year-old daughter Ámbar. Together we visited the sea, sharing as much as we could, and even invited Ambar to record some vocals on her own. She absolutely loved the experience.
This journey means so much to us as we love music in a way that touches spirituality, but because of the connection we share with the Huottoja, who understand that words and chant can be medicine and a form of healing and understanding. It’s a reminder of the power of music to connect, heal, and transform.
The song we bring you is a Huottoja translation of the song Águila Aguilé, wich is a popular medicine music song, below i bring you the lyrics on english and the original version:
lyrics
Desde lejos
Desde lejos oigo
El canto enamorado
De un pájaro
Y ese pájaro
Es mi abuelo
Es mi abuelo que canta
Que canta enamorado
Y ese pájaro
Es mi abuela
Es mi abuela que canta
Que canta enamorada
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Aguila, aguila aguilé
Aguila, aguila, aguilé
Aguila, aguila aguilé
Aguila, aguila, aguilé
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Canta, canta, canta
Aguila, aguila aguilé
Aguila, aguila, aguilé
Aguila, aguila aguilé
Aguila, aguila, aguilé
