In this modern era of music, with the internet making connections more accessible, borders have dissolved, allowing artists from diverse corners of the world to collaborate and create uniquely inspired pieces of music. Of course, I am biased when I say that no place does this better than Colombia. The title of this space, Colombian Jukebox alone reveals my bias, but we can definitely hear the sounds of Colombia all over the world in genres far beyond their origins and where they converge to produce an eclectic array of musical offerings.
At the heart of the musical intersections lie the spirit of collaboration, a driving force that has propelled Colombian music beyond its borders and onto the international stage. In this article, we go on a journey to explore the fascinating phenomenon of collaboration in shaping Colombian music, delving into the intricate webs of influence, innovation, and creativity that connect musicians from Colombia and beyond.
Photography by @valerieamorc
From the traditional rhythms of cumbia permeating the cutting edge sounds of pop music, like Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito, to hip hop sampling, Colombian music has undergone a remarkable transformation, blending old and new, local and global, to creating something truly extraordinary.
The Globalization of Cumbia
Cumbia is an afro-indigenous music originating from the Colombian Caribbean, characterized by its distinctive sounds produced with instruments such as la flauta de millo, the gaita, el guache, maracas, and tambores. Initially a regional rhythm, cumbia gained widespread popularity in the 1940s. Artists like Pacho Galán and Lucho Bermúdez elevated the genre by infusing it with a big band feel, at a time when Benny Goodman was a dominant figure in the United States with Swing Jazz music.
As Colombian cumbia musicians began traveling across Latin America, they planted the cumbia seed throughout the continent. Each country embraced the genre and adapted it to create their own unique sound.
Mexico: Cumbia Rebajada
In Mexico, the most popular variation is cumbia rebajada, which slows down the tempo and tone of Colombian cumbia. This style gained significant popularity with the Netflix movie Ya no estoy aqui.
Argentina: Cumbia Villera
In the 1990s, Argentina began incorporating synthesizers and other electric instruments into cumbia, blending influences from rock and punk to create cumbia villera. This style reflected a raw, energetic sound that resonated with the urban youth.
Peru: Psychedelic Cumbia
Peru developed its own version known as psychedelic cumbia, characterized by the extensive and distinctive use of electric guitars, as well as guaracha and rock go-go with delay effects, fuzztone, and the iconic wah-wah sound as essential components.
Fusion with Electronic Music
Cumbia’s adaptability goes far beyond traditional instruments and regional influences. This genre has also been fused with electronic music, gaining immense popularity with bands like Bomba Estereo and Systema Solar. These bands combine electronic sounds with cumbia, creating hypnotic, club-ready tracks that bring life to the dance floor all around the world.
Fusion Producers: Quantic and Richard Blair
Two names that stand out in the fusion of Colombian folkloric sounds with international influences are Quantic and Richard Blair. These producers have played pivotal roles in bringing the rich musical heritage of Colombia to a global audience by blending it with modern and diverse sounds.
Quantic
Will Holland, known by his stage name Quantic, is a British musician and producer who has immersed himself in Colombian music. After living in Cali, Colombia for an extended period of time, he noticed many musicians radiating the same raw energy and musical history that he felt from English-language blues and soul music.
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Quantic began to explore and experiment with Colombian traditional sounds, merging them with elements of jazz, soul, and electronic music. One of his earlier projects, Quantic and His Combo Bárbaro, ‘Tradition in Transition’ is a prime example of this fusion, featuring Colombian musicians and traditional instruments alongside contemporary production techniques.
Quantic’s ability to create seamless blends of traditional and contemporary sounds spans from working with classic traditional cumbia like the 1950s “Cumbia Sobre el Mar” by Trio Serenata to producing Hip Hop en Cumbia, an EP featuring hip hop classics such as Snoop Dogg’s “Nuthin’ But a G Than” and Missy Elliott’s “Get UR Freak On” with a cumbia spin, thus making Colombian music accessible to new audiences worldwide.
Quantic’s exploration of Colombian traditional sounds extends to collaborative projects like Ondatrópica, a musical ensemble in conjunction with Mario Galeano that blends traditional Colombian rhythms with contemporary influences.
Richard Blair
Richard Blair is the mastermind behind Sidestepper, a Colombian band named after his alter ego that has made significant contributions to the Colombian music scene. Band members of Sidestepper have gone on to create influential groups such as Bomba Estéreo, Systema Solar, and ChocQuibTown.
Originally from the UK, Blair moved to Colombia after working on Totó La Momposina’s La Candela Viva at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. Deeply influenced by the country’s diverse musical traditions, Blair began to bring together talented musicians like Goyo from ChocQuibTown and Kike Egurrola from Bomba Estéreo.
Blair’s work with Sidestepper ignited a new movement of Latin fusion, earning them recognition as the progenitors of electro-cumbia. An example of this innovative spirit is Supernatural Love, an album created in a small community in Bogota called La Candelaria, Blair explains, “We’ve tried to put a sound and a voice to how we live here. But most of all we’ve tried to put a call out of love in all its forms, and I guess we started with our love of music itself”.
The album’s first single is a joyful song with a playful touch filled with positive energy. “Come See Us Play” is a song that mixes elements of soul, gospel, and cumbia with vocals from Eka Muñoz, Blair’s longtime friend.
The Mestizo Initiative by the British Council
The accomplishments of British producers like Richard Blair and Quantic, who have been trailblazers in highlighting Colombian music, have also fostered a meaningful exchange between Colombia and the UK. These efforts have inspired a sense of pride and identity among new generations of musicians, encouraging them to integrate traditional music into their own creation.
The Mestizo Initiative, launched by the British Council, is a project aimed at celebrating and exploring the intersection of both the British and Colombian musical heritages. The initiative builds on the rich legacy and cultural diversity of both nations, forging a bridge between two worlds through the universal language of music.
In 2019, Ahnansé from Steam Down and Daniel Michel from Mambo Negro Studios and La BOA in Bogotá became the musical directors of the self-titled album, Mestizo. The new integration of sounds bring forth musical fusions of cumbia and currulao intertwined with hip-hop, salsa, and electronic music.
The Legacy of Colombian Music
Colombian Jukebox celebrates the diversity and creativity of Colombian music, recognizing its abilities to move through boundaries and unite people from all walks of life. From its Afro-indigenous roots in cumbia to its contemporary fusions with electronic and global sounds by pioneering producers like Quantic and RIchard Blair Colombian music continues to evolve, transcending borders and captivating audiences worldwide.
As we reflect on the dynamic intersections of tradition and innovation, local and global influences, the permutation of Colombian music is far from over. With each collaboration and creative journey, the legacy of Colombian music grows stronger, serving as a source of inspiration and unity for music lovers around the world.
