Banda Magda was formed in New York in 2009 by vocalist, accordionist, arranger and composer Magda, also known as Magdalini Giannikou. The original members were Ignacio Hernandez on guitar, Mika Mimura on vibraphone, Petros Klampanis on double bass, Keita Ogawa and Marcelo Woloski on percussion. Between 2009 and 2019, the band grew into a large community of New York-based musicians. At its core, Banda Magda was a way to create one’s own universe, brought to life through friendship and creativity.