New Orleans-based Cha Wa draws on both its hometown’s brass band culture as well as the Crescent City’s Mardi Gras Indian traditions. The group received a 2019 Grammy nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category for its album Spyboy. Cha Wa has just released a high-energy new single “Wildman,” which is premiering today.

Band leader Joe Gelini tells Relix, “’Wildman,’ written by our guitarist Ari Teitel, is an old-school, funk-driven tribute to the most hot-blooded Mardi Gras Indian Tribal member, who intimidates and “opens up a hole” in the crowd of people for the Big Chief to emerge on Mardi Gras Morning. This song evokes the infectious energy of the Wildman which you can feel on the streets on Mardi Gras Day.

“We recorded this song on our only day off from our summer tour, which happened to be Independence Day. Everyone was tempted to enjoy the beautiful day, but the band ground it out and finished the entire track that day because we didn’t want to lose the energy we’d been feeling from performing the song on the road. I think the intensity of this track reflects that.”

Cha Wa recently wrapped up a national tour but will appear in Monterey, Calif. at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Saturday.