Blogamole › Bomba Estereo

By Larry Yepes

The launch of the Heineken TransAtlantic Festival was on fire this past weekend, as the Colombian band Bomba Estereo sparked up the fest with an explosion of Electro-Cumbia, Rap, House  and Hip-Hop beats.

The crowd in the downtown Miami loft was shaking their booty to the unique sounds of these groundbreaking artists, a mix of all kinds of people from the hipsters to the yuppies and even some funky 50+ music lovers, some representing with typical Colombian sombreros vueltiaos but all jamming to the same vibe.

Bomba E's singer Liliana Saumet is captivating to watch, her energy radiates as she passionately sings her soul out in a beautiful classic cumbia voice and then all of a sudden, effortless and seamless, she breaks out and turns into a hardcore, in-your-face rapper!

True raw talent at its best, along with catchy cosmic dance beats was the perfect combo for a great show that built up as the crowd favorites pumped up the energy, and certainly the loft was pumping when 'Ponte Bomb' -  Bomba's new single, a take on Technotronic's classic 'Pump Up the Jam'-, rocked the house.

But when the roof really went on fire…or better yet, on fuego, was when Bomba brought the house down with their biggest hit 'Fuego'.  And with that  burning, Bomba Estereo Ignited the Ninth Annual Heineken TransAtlantic Festival that will be going on until Saturday April 30.

Tags Bomba Estereo, Festival, Heineken, Miami, Music, TransAtlantic

Cuando pensamos en bandas that make us dance, jump, sweat, think, feel, and completely absorb us, we can’t help but put the pure energy of Colombia’s electro-cumbia act Bomba Estéreo right at the top. That’s why we weren’t all that surprised when their fans voted to make Bomba Estéreo MTV Iggy’s “Best New Band in the World.”

Out of 25 selections, los sonidos del grupo colombiano, con su lider Simón Mejía y la vocalista Li Saumet, rose to the top and received the honorable title. Their unique mix of folk, hip hop, reggae, champeta afro-colombiana, and electro beats can take you for a ride you won’t soon forget. So the good folks at MTV Iggy decided to let some lucky Bomba Estéreo fans experience their one of a kind electro vacilón up close and personal en un concierto secreto en NYC.

Bomba Estereo Exclusive: In Concert for MTV IGGY Get new music videos and MTV show videos on Tr3s.com. www.tr3s.com More from Watch MTV Shows Watch New Music Videos | Music News
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Este verano, we saw the quartet give an enthusiastic performance at the Brooklyn Bandshell in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, which had excited fans leaning over the metal barricades (one girl actually dove right over) to jam along with them. But for this special MTV Iggy showcase, Bomba Estéreo fans were on more intimate terms con la banda. Los fanáticos del grupo pudieron bailar y cantar de cerca, surrounding Li and the boys, only an arm’s reach from the small stage.

The always magnetic performance of Li never fails to draw in the crowd who seems to fall at the mercy of her dulce yet powerful voice. Aunque el mundo solo esté empezando a conocer a Bomba Estéreo, Li is being hailed as an MC to watch out for, and even compared to respected and established acts like M.I.A. y la Mala Rodriguez. We got the chance to sit with Li and Simón for an exclusive entrevista earlier this Summer where they gave us some insight into what they’re all about. En sus propias palabras, “Bomba Estéreo es playa, es montaña, es música, es estar relajado, pasarla bien, llorar, reir, bailar.” All in all, it just sounds like a great time!

They’ve been touring all over the place this year promoting their latest album Blow Up throughout Europe, South America and the U.S. Pero si se encuentran en la región noroeste de los Estados Unidos, you can still catch them at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle, WA on September 6 before they head back to their native Colombia.

For more coverage on Bomba Estereo's concert with MTV Iggy, including more exclusive video and photo, head on over to their Bomba headquarters!

Have you checked out any of Bomba Estéreo’s concerts this Summer? Tell us what you think of the group in the comments below or @MTV3!

Tags Best New Band In The World, Bomba Estereo, Bumbershoot, Celebrate Brooklyn, Li Saumet, M.I.A., Mala Rodriguez, MTV Iggy, Simon Mejia

By Simone Hilliard

2010 officially belongs to Latina rappers, according to the Los Angeles Times. As Latin music continues to overlap mainstream markets, three noteworthy albums have a female MC at the helm, and Team Blogamole is happy to report we've been cheering these ladies on for some time.

Are you ready to be inspired? Sit back, relax, and enjoy some exclusive clips and highlights from our latest interactions with three talents on the rise.

Meet our upcoming (August 30!) Descubre & Download Artist and LAMC favorite, Ana Tijoux! Tr3s took notice after her collabo con Julieta Venegas on "Eres Para Mi" - but we've been all about her sound since her days as a member of Chilean hip-hop group Mazika.

We fell in love with Bomba Estéreo's Liliana Saumet at 2009's SXSW, and newcomer Goyo Martinez of Chocquibtown is definitely worth following. All thee musical powerhouses are signed to Nacional Records, an L.A. based Latin alternative label.

1977 Get new music videos and MTV show videos on Tr3s.com. www.tr3s.com More from Ana Tijoux Watch New Music Videos Watch New Music Videos | Music News
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Tijoux - who recently won the most most coveted spot on the iTunes charts for "1977" - has also received props from Radiohead's Thom Yorke and describes her style as complex and contradictory:

"There isn't a logic or theory to what I do. I taught myself how to rap and eventually reached a fortuitous moment when I discovered my own style, or signature."

When Tr3s caught up with Ana at 2010's LAMC, she shared what she envisions for the future:

“I would like to make an album with African musicians. I would like to write a book, make documentaries, and do other stuff that interests me. Hip hop is an amazing music [style], but I think we’ve got to be more free in our creations.”

As fas as her next album, Tijoux has already kicked off her writing process.

Ana Tijoux is Writing Her Next Album Get new music videos and MTV show videos on Tr3s.com. www.tr3s.com More from Watch MTV Shows Watch New Music Videos | Music News
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Tags 2010 LAMC, Anita Tijoux, Bomba Estereo, ChocQuibTown, Descubre & Download, Exclusive, Goyo Martinez, photo, Photos, Video, Videos

By Elis T. Ortiz
Photo Credit: Bashira Webb

Colombian electro-cumbia stars Simón y Liliana (Li) del grupo Bomba Estéreo are currently on tour, promoting their latest smash hit album, Blow Up. In a few weeks, they’ll be headed back to Europe, but for now, they’re still rocking out venues across the U.S. para sus fans latinoamericanos.

This past Friday (July 23rd) — before they brought down the house at the Brooklyn Bandshell — we sat down with Simón y Li fto find out what they’re up to, what and who keeps them motivated, and what they hope for their future.

It was interesting to hear Bomba Estéreo’s perspective on the welcoming response of the American audiences where they’ve performed, especially at SXSW where language did not seem to be a barrier at all. They have a new video out for their track “Agua Salá,” so they anticipate that will be their next single release.

The band is also currently filming a music video for their remake of Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam,” which was recorded for Levi’s Pioneer Sessions campaign. Simón says they plan on adding this track to a remix album that may be released by end of year, and they’ll also incorporate it into their live performances.

Li talked about how important it is for her to include lyrics of social conscience into the music of Bomba Estéreo. According to the artist, they don’t always like to get very political, but they do want to share when they feel strongly about certain things, like injustice in government or young girls getting cosmetic surgery.

Simón and Li let us know about the many Colombian artists who have inspired them, including salsa legends like Joe Arroyo y Los Diablitos. They’ve both been listening to The Whitest Boys Alive and Li is actually a big fan of Mala Rodriguez and M.I.A., both of whom she has often been compared to in the American press. And how does she feel about that? Well, she explains that she’s not a rapper and doesn’t pretend to be, but it’s good to at least be compared to people she admires.

When we asked about winning MTV Iggy’s fan-defined contest for “Best New Band in the World,” they humbly replied that it’s “too much” but that’s what they’re working on. Simón thinks it’s cool that it was decided by fans, and Li thinks Latinos may be addicted to the internet. They didn’t have much to reveal about their secret MTV Iggy performance this Thursday (July 29), except that they may not be wearing much clothing…

We have more from our candid discussion with Bomba Estéreo after the jump. Some of their responses were expected, others surprising, pero todo en Español.

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Tags Bomba Estereo, Chisme, Exclusive, Gossip, interview, latin, New Musica, photo, Photos, Tr3s

By Elis T. Ortiz

For over a year, Bomba Estéreo has been an unstoppable touring machine. The band's debut album Blow Up dropped in 2009 to critical acclaim, and since then they've served their "electro vacilón" sound to packed shows across the country (and the world!).

MTV Iggy's "Best New Band In The World" recently kicked off their U.S. summer tour, which will culminate at the Bumbershoot Festival on September 9. When Team Blogamole heard that our hottest Descubre & Download band of 2009 was going to be in NYC, we had to catch them at Celebrate Brooklyn!, where they braved some scary thunder, suffocating heat and fatigue to give fans some real "Fuego"!

Backstage with Bomba Estéreo

There's nothing like a hot summer night filled with great tunes! Lucky for us, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Bandshell was wired with Latin music on Friday night (July 23).

Bomba Estéreo rocks Brooklyn

Primero en el escenario was BK’s own Navegante, led by Jean Shepherd of Puerto Rican and Peruvian descent. His electro funk rhythm had local fans dancing and singing along, though they were forced to keep it behind the barricades that held them about thirty feet from the stage.

Navegante's Jean Shepherd

Organizers had the front area reserved for VIP members, and there weren’t many of them there to fill up the space — unfortunately for Navegante, who could have had a nice crowd of dancers right at his feet.

Navegante

Los que estaban ahi para ver a los rockeros puertoriqueños La Secta Allstar also had to sing along from a distance. The recipients of Premio Lo Nuestro’s 2010 award for best rock album of the year delighted the crowd with classics, including "Bombón de Azúcar," canción original de La Secta que fué prestada y llevada a la cultura pop por Ricky Martin.

La Secta Allstar

Thunder and rain threatened to cancel the rest of the concert during intermission, scattering away some of the crowd, so that it was largely a Bomba Estéreo fan base left waiting for them. But the skies dried up, and by the time the Colombian group exploded on the scene, the hipster Latino mix of the BK audience was ready to join them for the ride.

Celebrate Brooklyn! crowd waiting for Bomba Estéreo

Li, la voz de Bomba Estéreo, salió bailando dressed in a mesh see-through top, with gold 80’s style shorts, and a long scarf with black, gold, and silver etchings draped like a robe around her neck, cinched to the front of her waistline by the elastic in her shorts.

She was all a-glitter down to her silver shoes, bailando su electro cumbia con un suave movimiento de cadera que hipnotizaba la gente y los puso a todos de pie. By this time, the VIP area at the front of the stage had a nice crowd filling it up and dancing with her.

Bomba Estéreo's Li Saumet at Celebrate Brooklyn!

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Tags Bandshell, Bomba Estereo, Brooklyn, Celebrate Brooklyn, Concert, La Secta Allstar, Música, Navegante, photo, Photos, Prospect Park, review, show

By Sharmaine Jones

You voted Bomba Estéreo the “Best New Band In The World,” now seize the opportunity to get intimate with Simón and Li — via an exclusive performance!

Our friends at MTV Iggy are giving die-hard fans the opportunity to not only be a part of the audience at Bomba Estéreo's upcoming secret show, but there's also supposed to be a special surprise! We'd tell you what it is, but then it wouldn't be that special ;P

Bomba Estéreo's show is set to take place next Thursday (July 29) at a secret NYC venue.

Want your chance to be in the audience? All you have to do is visit Facebook.MTVIggy.com, click on the URL that will redirect you the "Bomba" tab, and apply to the casting call by leaving a comment on the wall, explaining why you should be selected.

Very simple, right? Don't miss out!

Fuego Get new music videos and MTV show videos on Tr3s.com. www.tr3s.com More from Bomba Estéreo Watch New Music Videos Watch New Music Videos | Music News
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Bomba Estéreo shared their “Electro Vacion” sounds at the kick-off of their tour at Bonnaroo in June. They'll continue to visit a few more cities, and for those who haven't been able to score any tickets, you may still be able to seize this opportunity of a lifetime!

Tags Bomba Estereo, contest, MTV Iggy, rules, secret show, Tr3s

Still basking in the accolades after winning MTV Iggy's "Best New Band In The World" feature, Bomba Estéreo took time to "Blow Up" at their first Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival gig, rocking attendees in The Other Tent on Saturday (June 12) and then on the Sonic Stage as part of the "Latino Alternativo" lineup.

The band tweeted their excitement from the festival:

"We feel the love in Tennessee / Sentimos el amor #bonnaroo"

The reviews from Bonnaroo confirm what we already knew — Bomba Estéreo know how to move a crowd!

The New York Times reported "a galvanizing noontime set by a Colombian band, Bomba Estéreo: guitar, drums, laptop and the vocalist Liliana Saumet, in gold-lamé shorts, who sang and rapped about “revolución” over a fierce, electrified Afro-Colombian beat, champeta." Spin.com said that Li's "precocious antics spurred the crowd to triple in size after only a half-dozen songs."

USA Today's highlights from the fest mentioned the band did "great sets," and VIBES' verdict was that Li "has the energy of M.I.A. — and the sense of style, too."

It sounds like Bomba Estéreo's first Bonnaroo fest was a success! After leaving Tennessee, the band headed to Colorado for a show that is happening tonight (free)! and will then take off for Europe to share more of their "elegancia tropical" sound.

Bomba will be back in the States on July 22 and will be giving a free performance at Brooklyn's Prospect Park Bandshell on July 23, as part of Celebrate! Brooklyn.

Here is what Simon Mejia told The Alternate Side about how he defines "elegancia tropical":

"After going in circles thinking about the name, we came to the conclusion that “tropical elegance” best defines our music. Tropical elegance is that influence from Colombia, from the Caribbean, and from Latin America that we carry within us every time we travel, and hope to make contagious with every beat."

You'll have another chance to catch Bomba Estéreo at a fest on September 6 — they are playing Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival.

In the meantime, download "Fuego" for free via NPR's 'Music At Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival' Sampler, also featuring The Black Keys, Miranda Lambert, Ozomatli, and Thievery Corporation.

(photo credit: Melissa Casasnovas)

Did you go to Bonnaroo? Who gave your favorite performance? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 2010, Bomba Estereo, Bonnaroo, Festival, photo, Photos

Bomba Estereo will kick off their U.S. tour this weekend when they take stage at the Bonnaroo music festival on Saturday (June 12).

The Colombian cumbieros, along with Ozomatli, Aterciopelados, Los Amigos Invisibles, y Mexican Institute of Sound, will play the festival's Latino Alternativo tent as the first stop on their tour.

The nine-set, eight-city tour trails the band’s recent conquest, beating out other buzz bands (Surfer Blood, Matías Aguayo, The Very Best, and Sleigh Bells) for MTV Iggy's "Best New Band in the World" title.

El grupo will hit two U.S. cities before they head to Europe for a month long stint, and will then resume the remainder of their U.S. tour in July.

Bomba Estéreo - New Music

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Tags Bomba Estereo, Bonnaroo, music festival, New Musica, summer

Congratulations, Bomba Estéreo! The psychedelic cumbia stars are MTV Iggy's "Best New Band In The World," beating out 24 other major indie acts like Surfer Blood, Das Racist, Matias Aguayo, The Very Best, The Best Coast, Asteroid Galaxy Tour, Toro y Moi, Soko, Sleigh Bells, and more!

Calling them "the hardest working band in Colombia," MTV Iggy will award Bomba Estéreo the following prizes:

1. An MTV Iggy homepage takeover (to go up soon, so stay tuned)

2. A live performance taping with MTV Iggy

3. Bragging rights that will extend forever across the universe, in perpetuity, in all languages, across all of space and time

Bomba Estéreo shared their reaction on Twitter:

Wooooooooooooh! #Gracias RT @MTV_Music the best new band in the world is... @BOMBAESTEREO http://su.pr/1HTVkK

After facing such fierce competition, Team Blogamole is proud of Bomba Estéreo's achievement. It feels like just yesterday they were our Descubre & Download artist! Go, Simon and Li!

Bomba Estéreo - New Music

Are you proud of Bomba Estéreo? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 2010, Best New Band In The World, Bomba Estereo, MTV Iggy

Bonnaroo has joined forces with Cookman International / Nacional Records to create the “Latino Alternativo” tent at Bonnaroo.

All day long on Saturday, the tent will feature headliner Ozomatli, Los Amigos Invisibles, the Nortec Collective present: Bostich + Fussible, Aterciopelados, Mexican Institute of Sound, and Bomba Estereo!

In addition to live bands, guests will be able to get down to top DJs, cutting edge video, visual art and more. For hip-hop fans, Jay-Z will perform late night after Stevie Wonder on Saturday, June 12th!

BONNAROO 2010 tickets are on sale now. The music and arts festival is taking place June 10 - 13 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee.

BONNAROO LINEUP:
Dave Matthews Band • Kings of Leon • Stevie Wonder • Jay-Z • Conan O'Brien • Tenacious D • Weezer • The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs • The Dead Weather • Damian Marley & Nas • Phoenix • Norah Jones • Michael Franti & Spearhead • John Fogerty • Regina Spektor • Jimmy Cliff • LCD Soundsystem • The Avett Brothers • Thievery Corporation • Rise Against • Tori Amos • The National • Zac Brown Band • Les Claypool • John Prine • The Black Keys • Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers • Jeff Beck • & Many More!

Tr3s Comunidad, are you going to Bonnaroo? What do you think about the festival? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3!

(via Bonnaroo)

Tags Bomba Estereo, Bonnaroo, Festival, Latino Alternativo