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In honor of Women’s History Month, Blogamole is profiling powerful chicas. Keep checking back for new installments and be sure to share your inspirational mujeres with us in the comments!

By Daniela Capistrano

When Uncensored Interview caught up with Bomba Estereo at this year’s SXSW, Li shared her views on feminism:

“I’m not a feminist. I think that feminine power on stage is important and it’s something totally different, but nothing radically feminist … like just women, women, women. The male’s presence is just as important as the woman’s. I love having that power and strength of being on the mic, just like all women that are doing it but [I’m not for] super radical.”

Although Saumet doesn't identify as a feminist, she is not afraid to take control on stage. The singer is known for having a raw and enigmatic performance style and has been compared to artists like M.I.A., Santigold and Totó La Momposina.

Li’s poder feminino definitely shined through at SXSW – the Chicago Sun Times remarked that “Liliana Saumet dominated the stage with sheer charisma and force of will.”

Bomba Estereo is Simon Mejia and Li Saumet. Part of the new wave of young artists playing cumbia-inspired electronica, Bomba Estereo has been making waves with their album “Blow Up” and hit single “Fuego.”

Tr3s Comunidad, do you agree with Liliana’s definition of a feminist? What do you think a feminist is? Tell us in the comments or on Twitter!

Tags Bomba Estereo, Li Saumet, SXSW, Women's History Month

By Sandra Roldán

This week we're bringing you lo major de SXSW! Meet some of our top Latin indie picks, Girl In A Coma, Anita Tijuox, and more!

We knew we were onto something when we first put Colombian urban fusion band, and current MTV Tr3s Artist of the Week, Bomba Estéreo on blast with their cumbia-infused hip-hop hit "Fuego" during last year's Descubre & Download spotlight. Y ahora, Bomba bandmates Simon Mejía and Li Saumet are taking the world by storm with another go at SXSW and even more international tour dates.

Since debuting their most recent album, 'Blow Up,' Bomba Estéreo have been touring the U.S. and Europe, and are rounding out their tour with two more performances at SXSW this week, including a showcase esta noche (3/17) with Nacional Records labelmates Maldita Vecindad y compatriotas Colombianos ChocQuibTown.

Of their recent stint in Europe, cantante Li Saumet had this to say:

"Those experiences in Europe were amazing. They’ve literally changed my life. Performing in front of 15,000 people, many who don't understand what you’re singing yet they dance for the love of the music. It's inspiring. It made me realize that our band needs to keep growing and building. Every day we need to get better and better while still keeping our musical essence."

Sounds like Bomba Estéreo is ready for world domination!  Make sure to catch them if you're in Austin this week -- they will be playing tonight at Antone's and tomorrow night (3/18) at Levi's SXSW FADER Fort showcase.  Will you be catching their en fuego performances??

Keep checking back to Blogamole for more SXSW updates toda esta semana!

Photo via Nacional Records

Tags Anita Tijoux, Blow Up, Bomba Estereo, ChocQuibTown, Colombia, Fuego, Girl in A Coma, Maldita Vecindad, nacional records, SXSW

Want a pick me up antes del fin de semana?  Nuestros amigos at Nacional Records are offering up some weekend goodies to pump up your party!

Check it out: for a limited time, you can download the Nacional Records Sampler 2009 | The New Sounds Of Latin Music for free.  The sampler features canciones by some nuestros artistas favoritos, like our current Descubre & Download artists Bomba Estereo, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Manu Chao, y Hello Seahorse!  Cool, we love getting free new music!

Photo via Amazon

Tags Bomba Estereo, Descubre & Download, Free Music, Hello Seahorse!, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Manu Chao, nacional records, sampler

Llama los bomberos, porque Bomba Estéreo is on FIRE!  El grupo colombiano is making waves en la música urbana con un nuevo sonido, mixing the traditional regional sounds of champeta y cumbia with reggae, hip-hop and electronica.

Don't be fooled by singer Li Saumet's cute as a button exterior, porque esta cantante packs quite a lyrical punch alongside the intricate beats of bandmate Simón Mejía.  El grupo is already picking up steam in their native Colombia, and have performed with urban fusion heavy-hitters, Calle 13, in addition to landing a prime spot at this year's LAMC showcase.  Want to see what the hype is all about?  Download su más reciente canción, "Fuego," on the MTV Tr3s Descubre & Download page ahora. It's free and it's just as explosive as you'd expect from the title.

Quieres más música latina gratis? Don't forget to download more free tracks from Monte Negro, Federico Aubele, Aterciopelados y Los Amigos Invisibles and tell us what you think!

Photo via Nacional Records

Tags 2009 LAMC, Bomba Estereo, Calle 13, Descubre and Download, Free Music, Fuego, Latin Music, Musica Latina

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!

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

Ay, mic check! The Bowery Ballroom was packed with a long list of talented músicos last night...

At first glance you may experience a SXSW deja-vu, but we are here to confirm that Bomba Estéreo's electric sonidos were all too real. The "Fuego" singers lit up la noche with their reggae-infused tunes that had the crowd swayin' and sweatin'. Luckily the Colombian group weren't the only ones causing a dance explosion. While Mexican rapera Niña Dioz graced the stage with her put-your-hands-up-in-the-air vibe, Argentine cantante Federico Aubele provided a smooth heart-twisting rendition of "Este Amor."

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Mexico’s talented (and dulce) vocalist Natalia Lafourcade roared with new canciones from her latest album "Hu Hu Hu," but it was the electro professionals RH+ that offered a dreamy set that had us driftin' far, far, away...

Espera! The 2009 LAMC isn't over just yet. Visit LAMC's homepage for more conciertos and news, and keep it locked for more exclusives to come!

Photos via Fernando Leon

Tags 2009 LAMC, Bomba Estereo, Federico Aubele, Latin Music, MTV, MTV NEws, Musica Latina, Natalia Lafourcade, Nina Dioz, Tr3s, Tres

If you play with fire you will get burnt...

Bomba Estéreo knows the metaphorical phrase quite well. The Colombian trio is responsible for sparking an electro vacilón that rising from the ashes of la costa and blends reggae, pop, and cumbia into a psychedelic reincarnation. Whether you are thirstin' for a painful rebirth or a smooth escape, listen to their latest track "Fuego" and you will be pleasantly lifted into an alternate state-of-mind. Don't trip. The eclectic group also sings about social and political issues that tend to skip the nightly news headlines.

We got a chance to chat with lead singer Li Saumet and bassist Simon Mejía after their performance at SXSW to find out more about their musical style and what they have in the works right below the hood!

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Tags Bomba Estereo, Free Music, Latin Music, Musica Latina