LAMC Exclusive: Bomba Estéreo Puts La Costa On Blast

What's better than blasting reggaeton for the entire neighborhood to hear?

Throwing on champeta, a genre African slaves gave birth to in the coast of Colombia. The ritmo de la calle came around way before reggaetoneros deemed themselves musical royalty, and Bomba Estéreo is making sure the rich rhythm stays alive. The electro vacilón crew melts champeta, cumbia, ska, and hip-hop all into the explosive compilation  “Bomba Estéreo Estalla: Volume 2.″ We got a chance to talk to lead singer Li Saumet and bassist Simon Mejía exclusively at the 2009 LAMC about why they call their music melodramatic pop and their message to fans after the jump!

What is the best part of participating at the 2009 LAMC?

Li: The energy is always the best part. The fans energy and also the way we work with each other on stage.

Simon: Yeah, when our own energy as a group is flowing right then that is the best part of any event.

Many people may think your sound is influenced by reggaeton when it's actually champeta. How can you compare the two?

Li: That generic main beat is the same, but that comes from Africa. That's what they have in common. The sound is very popular with young people in Colombia, but it's also a very marginalized genre. It's known as street music. The word champeta itself is a little knife that fishers use in the coast.

Simon: It's also important to understand that la champeta came before el reggaeton.

Do you listen to reggaeton at all?

Simon: I like some elements that reggaeton has like the beats and stuff, but the lyrics get a little tired.

Li: I love dancing to it, but I have to agree. The lyrics are boring now because they always talk about the same things. Very machista I think. I do love Calle 13 and Tego Calderon. Those are my favorites.

Why do you define your music as melodramatic pop?

Li: Because we are dramatic [Laughs]. You can't really classify our music. We are a blend of different sounds so we decided to create our own genre, which is melodramatic pop. But just like us, you can't really define that name either.

Simon: Our lyrics are all about love and falling out of it. You know that side of life that shows the good and the bad.

What inspired your new song "Blow Up"?

Simon: Our love for cumbia was really the inspiration for it.

Li: And relationships. This sort of uncontrollable sense that you get when you are in love. It also has a reggae mix into it.

What message do you have for your fans?

Li: I have so many. We have mucho fuego to offer our fans now and always.

Simon: Thank you for supporting our music and to come out to our shows. Also that Colombia is moving ahead. We are doing big things as a nation, which mainstream media doesn't show.

You heard it! Check out Bomba Estéreo's music and more information on their world tour at MySpace.

Tags 2009 LAMC, Bomba Estereo, Colombia, Free Music, MTV, Musica Latina, Tr3s, Tres