Bomba Estéreo
Biography
Bomba Estéreo is a Colombian band founded in Bogotá in 2005 by Simón Mejía. The group is known for its fusion of electronic music with Caribbean rhythms, a style they have dubbed "electro tropical" or "psychedelic cumbia". The core members of the band are Mejía, who handles bass and synthesizers, and lead vocalist and lyricist Liliana "Li" Saumet.
History
The origins of Bomba Estéreo trace back to Mejía's earlier project, A.M. 770, where he experimented with combining traditional Colombian sounds with electronic beats. After vocalist Li Saumet joined, the project evolved into Bomba Estéreo. The band's debut album, Vol. 1, was released in 2006 and was primarily a solo effort by Mejía with various collaborators. Their second album, Estalla (released in the U.S. as Blow Up) in 2008, solidified the band's lineup and featured the hit single "Fuego," which brought them international recognition.
Major Albums and Recognition
Throughout their career, Bomba Estéreo has released several critically acclaimed albums. Elegancia Tropical (2012) earned them a Latin Grammy nomination. Their 2015 album, Amanecer, was nominated for both a Grammy and two Latin Grammy Awards, marking a significant breakthrough for the band. This was followed by the Grammy-nominated Ayo in 2017. Their 2021 album, Deja, was conceived during the pandemic and is divided into four sections corresponding to the elements: water, air, earth, and fire. It was named one of the best albums of 2021 by The New York Times.
Collaborations and Recent Work
Bomba Estéreo has collaborated with numerous renowned artists, including Bad Bunny on the popular track "Ojitos Lindos," Will Smith, Arcade Fire, and Nelly Furtado. In 2023, they composed the soundtrack for Disney's "Lucha: Despierta tu naturaleza". In March 2025, they released a collaborative full-length album titled Astropical with the Venezuelan band Rawayana. The band has toured extensively, performing at major international festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza.