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Bomba Estéreo

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bomba Estéreo is a Colombian band founded in Bogotá in 2005 by Simón Mejía. Their music is called electro-tropical or psychedelic cumbia. The roots lie in 2001, when Mejía, formerly a member of the Colombian rock band Charconautas, was part of a loose collective of musicians and visual artists under the name A.M. 770. Their influences were Colombian groups such as Sidestepper and Bloque de Búsqueda, who in the late 1990s mixed traditional rhythms such as salsa and cumbia with modern electronic beats. In 2005 the project became mainly his solo work and the name changed to Bomba Estéreo.

Music and breakthrough

The first result was the mini-album Vol. 1. In New York Mejía secured an international distribution deal with Nacional Records. One of the singers on that record was Liliana Li Saumet from Santa Marta, whom he then chose as permanent singer. By the second album, Estalla from 2008, Bomba Estéreo was a real band, with Saumet on vocals, Diego Cadavid on percussion, Julián Salazar on guitar, Kike Egurrola on drums and Mejía on bass and keyboards. In the United States it was released as Blow Up. With the single Fuego the group won new fans outside Colombia, and in 2010 the viewers of MTV Iggy chose it as the best new band in the world. Later followed Elegancia tropical in 2012, Amanecer in 2015, Ayo in 2017 and Deja in 2021.

Influence

In 2010 the band recorded Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic for a Levi's advertising campaign, as Ponte Bomb. Bomba Estéreo showed how Caribbean and Colombian rhythms could melt with dance music into a new style, putting Colombia on the world map of the dance floor.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Fuego from Estalla (2008) and notice the combination of a tropical rhythm and electronic sounds. Hear how the singer half raps and half sings above the beat.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists