Dawn Drake & ZapOte

Originally from the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, Dawn Drake is an active musician in NYC’s eclectic music scene. She is a percussionist, bass player, singer and composer/songwriter who leads the band ZapOte, a “Tropical Pop” ensemble which breaks down cultural barriers incorporating everything from mountain Funk to Cuban timba and Brazilian samba into a soul- shaking mix with her original lyrics that focus on love, empathy, environmental, economic, racial, gender and social justice themes and above all: unity. She studied percussion first in Ghana, then went on to pursue Afro-Cuban batá and conga drumming in Cuba and in NYC, as well as samba percussion in Brazil. Currently, in addition to directing her band ZapOte, she also plays bass and congas with artists from around the globe, focusing on programs that celebrate diversity, global rhythm, youth and women’s empowerment through music. In 2020, Dawn kept very busy with online shows, music festivals and outdoor shows. She also spearheaded the pandemic “Black Lives Matter Prospect Heights Community Jam” in Brooklyn. Her album Nightshade was part of the first round of Grammy submissions in the category of Best Global Music Album in Fall 2020 and she has just finished the new single and video "Corona King” which will be released on all platforms February 12, 2021. It is a semi-autobiographical tale chronicling a failed pandemic romance.