Mafia Matou, the French trio of Tatiana Valenzuela, Aurélien Calvo and Romain Frécenon, has released “Vida” featuring Jonas Chirouze on balafon, from their debut album of the same title out 8 December 2025 on French label Mental Stamina Records.

Valenzuela, an Ecuadorian singer and percussionist, handles vocals and percussion, with Spanish-language lyrics addressing struggle and hope. Calvo contributes beatmaking, trombones, synthesizers and backing vocals. Frécenon plays viola, cavaquinho, pífano and synthesizers alongside backing vocals. All three share writing credits for music and lyrics across the album. Chirouze comes from the Toulouse Afro-Colombian and tropical scene, where he plays balafon, percussion and vocals with Super Panela. His balafon lines sit alongside Valenzuela’s lead vocal as an extra melodic voice inside the arrangement.

Calvo and Frécenon founded Mafia Matou as a duo, releasing their first EP Serenidade in July 2023. Valenzuela joined in early 2024. Frécenon’s background includes traditional Brazilian music and jazz manouche, while Calvo works from swing and sound system culture. The production sits between electro-cumbia, reggae, dub and tropical bass.

VIDA contains eleven tracks, with additional contributions from trumpeter Jérémy Lam on “El Viento” and Julien Champreux on “Energizant”.

You can listen to and purchase your copy of the album HERE