I’m Julian Apter, bandleader of the bicoastal collective Orchestre Moto. Led by guitarist Solo de Kanto, we bring the high-energy spirit of Congolese rumba, sebene, and soukous to your event. From 6-piece combos to 15-member festival groups with a dance team, we deliver an unforgettable, world-class cultural experience.
Highlighted in the New York Times and Brooklyn Rail, we are the flagship group of the nonprofit Congo Culture Connection and an official NYC DOT Programming Partner. Booking us supports workforce development for African immigrant musicians. Everyone has a piece of the Congo in their pocket; support one of the few Congolese bands in the US!
5 reviews
Rose L.
July 30, 2026Orchestre Moto was truly the highlight of our Wakanda Celebration! Their performance was filled with incredible energy, vibrant rhythms, and an infectious spirit that brought our entire community together. From the very first song, the atmosphere came alive, and people of all ages couldn't resist getting up to dance.
Our guests absolutely loved them. Their music created so much joy that people were still talking about the performance long after the celebration ended. Orchestre Moto was not only exceptionally talented but also professional, engaging, and a pleasure to work with. They helped make our event an unforgettable experience.
The response was so overwhelmingly positive that we're excited to welcome them back for Wakanda 2026 on Saturday, September 12th! If you missed them last year—or want to experience their amazing performance again—you won't want to miss this year's celebration.
We highly recommend Orchestre Moto to anyone looking for outstanding live music that brings people together and keeps everyone dancing.
Hired as: African Entertainment
Raul F.
July 29, 2026Musicians like Julian Apter give us a welcome, refreshing sound and more importantly new ideas. He’s obviously familiar with melodic rhythms (yes, melodic) of West Africa and the Caribbean African diaspora. What is impressive is the way he’s able to mix them, to move easily and with elegance from an Afro Cuban, Lucumí phrasing to a cinquillo based, propulsive bomba sound, to a rhumba congolaise dance beat. He’s someone to watch, better said: to listen to.
Hired as: World Music
Robin L. D.
July 27, 2026I spent a year in Tanzania at the University of Dar es Salaam where I fell in love with Soukous music from the Congo since at that time Congloese music had taken over East Africa. Orchestre Moto has excellent musicianship with serious guitar and drumming talent and highly charismatic singers.
Hired as: African Entertainment, World Music
Ma V. O. V. O. K.
July 13, 2026Orchestra Moto delivers a unique blend of cultures and musical influences. Their performances are energetic, their harmonies are captivating, and their music creates a powerful connection between African rhythms and contemporary sounds. They are a talented group that brings people together through creativity, diversity, and outstanding musicianship.
Hired as: World Music
Hailey M.
July 13, 2026Orchestre Moto did an amazing job at our annual festival! The live instruments really helped the community learn about their music and their artistry. They were super nice to coordinate with, and were super communicative throughout the whole process.
Hired as: World Music
Price range: $3000 and up
Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Lingala
Gig length: 5 - 180 minutes
Insurance: $2,000,000 - Commercial General Liability
WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect the raw, driving energy of a stadium rock band. We are a premier, large-format Congolese dance orchestra inspired by the legendary, high-octane African groups of the 1970s and 1980s. When you hire us, you are not getting a background jazz ensemble—you are getting an immersive, high-production cultural spectacle featuring multiple singers, guitarists, percussionists, and professional choreographers.
We are fully multilingual, performing sweeping, rhythmically intricate arrangements in Lingala, Kikongo, French, Portuguese, and English. Because of our scale and high-energy performance style, we are built for large festival stages, corporate galas, high-end weddings, auditoriums, and major civic activations.
PRESTIGIOUS CREDENTIALS & GLOBAL RECOGNITION
We bring unmatched cultural authenticity and professional prestige to every stage we touch:
PRESS & CITATIONS: Highlighted by the New York Times and featured in The Brooklyn Rail as one of the premier African ensembles in the United States.
CIVIC PARTNERSHIPS: Selected as an official Programming Partner for the NYC DOT season.
INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM: Officially recognized by the Cabinet du Ministre de l'Intégration Régionale in Kinshasa. Our ensemble has been presented directly to the legendary Werrason and featured in televised interviews on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest national media networks, including Télévision 50 and RTNC (Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise).
WHAT THE AUDIENCE SEES
An electric, fast-moving wall of sound and movement. Audiences experience the driving rhythms of Sebene, Rumba, and Ndombolo, led by clean, bright interlocking guitar lines and commanding vocal harmonies. For events featuring our signature interactive dance workshops, our choreographers step off the stage to direct the public, transforming the entire venue into a vibrant, synchronized dance zone.
WHAT THE CLIENT GETS
A turn-key, world-class headline act. We work seamlessly with professional technical directors, house audio crews, and festival organizers. Because of our instrumentation, large personnel footprint, and spatial staging needs, we are perfectly set up for clients, venues, or festivals that already have established sound, lighting, and backline infrastructure in place.
Bring the absolute pinnacle of modern Congolese orchestral music to your event. Expect an unforgettable, high-impact performance that keeps the dance floor packed from the first note to the last.
Orchestre Moto is a premier, bi-coastal Congolese dance ensemble dedicated to preserving, promoting, and expanding the rich musical traditions of Congo. Founded in 2024 by guitarist and director Julian Apter, the orchestra operates as a powerful cultural vehicle under the nonprofit organization Congo Culture Connection, championing culture and the inspiring legacy of Congolese Rumba, Sebene, Ndombolo, and Mutuashi.
Based out of both New York City and Los Angeles, the ensemble is built on the foundation of large-format, high-energy African orchestras of the 1970s and 80s. Orchestre Moto brings together an extraordinary lineup of master African music specialists, featuring legendary veteran talents like guitarist Huit Kilos (guiding West Coast activities) and vocalist Solo De Kanto. Performing fluidly in Lingala, French, Kikongo, Portuguese, and English, the group bridges global audiences with the intricate guitar lines, driving percussion, and commanding vocal harmonies native to Kinshasa.
Recognized for its artistic excellence, operational rigor, and cultural vitality, Orchestre Moto has been highlighted by the New York Times, featured in The Brooklyn Rail, and selected as an official public programming partner for the NYC Department of Transportation. Beyond American stages, the group’s work has received formal institutional acknowledgement from the Cabinet du Ministre de l'Intégration Régionale in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been featured on major national television networks in the DRC.
Whether delivering a driving, multi-tiered headline concert or leading immersive public dance activations, Orchestre Moto commands the stage with an electric, rock-band energy that honors the past while pushing Congolese contemporary music firmly into the 21st century.
SOUND & AUDIO REQUIREMENTS
PA & MIXING CONSOLE: Professional stereo PA system with subwoofers and a multi-channel digital mixing board (Behringer X32, Midas M32, or equivalent preferred), capable of clean, clear coverage for a high-energy live band.
AUDIO CREW: Dedicated Front of House (FOH) sound engineer provided by the venue/event for soundcheck and the duration of the performance. (Dedicated on-stage Monitor Engineer is preferred if already on site for festival stages, but not strictly required).
MONITORS: Minimum of 4 independent monitor mixes/wedges distributed across the stage so the front vocal line and backline pockets can hear clearly.
VOCAL MICS: 4x Professional Wireless Vocal Microphones (Shure QLXD/ULXD with SM58 or Beta58 capsules preferred) on heavy-duty boom stands across the front line.
DI BOXES: Minimum of 4x professional active DI boxes (for keys, laptop, and bass routing).
BACKLINE REQUIRED
DRUMS: 1x Professional 5-piece drum kit (Yamaha, DW, or Pearl) with heavy-duty hardware, 3x cymbal stands, hi-hat stand, snare stand, drum throne, and 1x heavy-duty DW 5000 kick drum pedal.
PERCUSSION: 1x Set of pro congas with a heavy-duty mounting stand (LP Matador or equivalent).
GUITAR AMPS (SONIC DISTINCTION):
Amp 1: 1x Fender Twin Reverb or Fender Deluxe Reverb.
Amp 2: 1x Vox AC30 or Roland JC-120 (Requested for tonal variation between the two guitarists).
BASS AMP: 1x Professional bass amplifier head and cabinet (Aguilar or Markbass preferred).
KEYBOARDS & STANDS:
1x Nord Stage 4 (88-key preferred).
1x Yamaha Montage (Montage 7 or 8 preferred).
Hardware: 1x Heavy-duty, stable two-tier keyboard stand (or two separate heavy-duty X/Z stands) and 1x stable laptop stand near the keys position.
Note: The band can provide their own keys and playback setup if requested, but house-provided units are preferred if a backline rental is already in place.
PERFORMANCE STYLE & SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS (CRUCIAL)
DANCE WORKSHOPS & LIVE DANCERS: For bookings that feature live dancers or our signature interactive public dance class (where choreographers direct the audience alongside the live band), specific spatial layouts are required for safety and crowd engagement:
LARGE STAGE FOOTPRINT: The performance stage must be large and completely unobstructed to allow both the full live band and the choreographers to move freely.
DANCEFLOOR CLEARANCE: A wide, open, and completely level clearing must be maintained DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE STAGE to serve as the public interactive dance zone. No tables, seating, or heavy barricades should block this immediate area.
LIGHTING & POWER
LIGHTING: Professional stage lighting package. A clean, high-visibility warm front wash must fully illuminate both the downstage vocalists/dancers and the immediate public dancefloor area, complemented by dynamic color lighting for the backline.
POWER: Minimum of 4x standard independent AC power drops distributed across the stage area (for guitar amps, bass rig, and keyboards).
Our extensive repertoire spans the golden era of traditional Congolese folk and classic Rumba up to modern, chart-topping Afro-pop and high-energy Ndombolo. We perform dynamic original compositions alongside celebrated masterpieces by icons of Congolese music, including:
CLASSIC RUMBA & SEBENE MASTERS: Franco Luambo Makiadi, Simaro Lutumba, Madilu System, and Reddy Amisi.
MODERN ICONIC HITMAKERS: Koffi Olomidé, Werrason, Fally Ipupa, and Férré Gola.
TRANSNATIONAL PAN-AFRICAN ICONS: Papa Wemba, Awilo Longomba, and Lokua Kanza.
Whether your event requires an elegant, sophisticated cultural showcase or a high-octane, stadium-energy dance party, our setlists are custom-tailored to keep the dance floor moving from the first note to the last. Performative sets are fully fluid and sung natively across Lingala, Kikongo, French, Portuguese, and English.
Our sound is a heavy, guitar-driven wall of sound rooted in the golden eras of Congolese Rumba, Sebene, and high-velocity Ndombolo. While we are deeply inspired by the melodic and sonic power of Jimi Hendrix and the relentless intensity of John Coltrane, our music is not jazz—we channel their expressive energy directly into a commanding, rhythmic dance-floor experience with a modern hip-hop energy, rock and roll power, and a nod to sound system bass culture with our subwoofer requirements. Our foundational influences include:
THE ROOTS OF CONGOLESE RUMBA & ODEMBA: The legendary Franco Luambo Makiadi, his seminal TPOK Jazz, and Simaro Lutumba, through their multi-layered guitar patterns and tireless songwriting.
THE CHIEFS OF SEBENE & REVOLUTIONARY SOUKOUS: Zaiko Langa Langa (the pioneers of the modern guitar-and-drum rhythm section), Orchestre Lipua Lipua, and Orchestre Kiam; drawing from their fast-paced, interlocking guitar styles and sebene breaks.
MODERN TRANSFORMATION & STADIUM NDOMBOLO: Papa Wemba, who modernized the genre for global stages, and Werrason, bringing that massive, commanding, and high-production stadium-rock energy.
AFRO-DIASPORIC CONNECTIONS & BASS CULTURE: The heavy low-end emphasis of Jamaican Sound System culture and Dancehall, as well as Angolan Semba and Caribbean Zouk.
THE MOTOWN FOUNDATION: The driving, highly melodic bass presence of James Jamerson and the timeless arrangement precision of Motown, which directly informs how our low-end moves and locks the groove in place.
AMERICAN ROOTS, TEXTURE & POWER: Jimi Hendrix as a model of singable melodies, alongside John Coltrane for his uncompromising performance dedication. The music is further charged by the rawness of the blues and the figure of the bluesman, the physical power of rock and roll, and the energy and bravado of hip-hop.
1x Full professional drum set with heavy-duty hardware and a DW 5000 kick pedal.
2x Professional congas with heavy-duty mounting stands.
2x Guitar amplifiers chosen for sonic distinction (1x Fender Deluxe Reverb and 1x Vox AC30/Roland JC-120 preferred).
1x Professional bass amplifier head and cabinet (Aguilar or Markbass preferred).
1x Required, 2x preferred (Nord Stage 4 and Yamaha Montage) with a stable, heavy-duty two-tier stand, and smaller table for laptop.
5x Professional microphones (wireless preferred for front-line vocalists) on heavy-duty boom stands.
A professional, full-scale stereo PA system with subwoofers and a multi-channel digital mixing board capable of clear coverage for a high-energy band.
Minimum of 1x dedicated Front of House (FOH) sound engineer provided by the venue for the duration of the performance. (Dedicated monitor engineer preferred but optional).
Minimum of 4x standard independent AC power drops distributed across the stage area to safely power all amplifiers and keyboard rigs.
Professional stage lighting package featuring a high-visibility, warm front wash to fully illuminate both the onstage performers and the immediate dancefloor area.
A large, level, and completely unobstructed stage or performance area is required to safely accommodate our large-format band lineup, heavy backline gear, and fluid onstage movement.
For bookings featuring live dancers or our signature public dance workshops, a wide, level clearing must be maintained directly in front of the performance area to act as an active audience dance zone. No seating or heavy barricades should block this area
We are built for high-production events, corporate galas, large festivals, and auditoriums. We do not provide our own heavy backline or full-scale PA systems by default, and operate best in spaces with established sound, lighting, and stage infrastructure
World Music
