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Rock music has many subgenres like indie rock, alternative rock, post-rock, art rock, among many others. In fact, it’s the most people can keep track
Whenever we talk about any country’s music, it is deeply rooted in a rich history of local traditions and cultural influences. Colombian music is one fine example that blends African, Indigenous, and European influences.
The result is in the form of rhythm and culture with infectious beats and diverse styles. Many people already know about Colombian music thanks to icons like Shakira and Juanes, who have brought international fame to the country. Yet, Colombia’s music scene goes far beyond these household names.
Interestingly, each region of Colombia is also pretty diverse in terms of music production. This diversity makes the music deeply rich so it means there’s a beat for everyone, no matter your mood or style.
So, let’s the best of Colombian music and the artists producing such incredible music!
As I said earlier Colombian music has many influences and these transnational influences define its music. It’s very similar to how migrants arriving in Europe from across the globe are behind the new influence in European bands mixing.
So, let’s see which Colombia music has local cultural and Indigenous influences. And, which one has global influences?
Although Salsa is a Caribbean in origin, Colombia has given its own unique twist to the genre. The genre began in the 1960s and 70s in the Afro-Caribbean communities in Cuba and Puerto Rico. However, Colombia, particularly Cali City has developed its distinctive Salsa scene.
The city is even known as the “Salsa Capital of the World.”
Salsa is an upbeat genre with local influences, and is popular in dance clubs and music festivals. Grupo Niche and Joe Arroyo are famous Colombian music artists of the Salsa genre.
Cumbia is a popular genre across Latin America with different local cultural influences in some Latin countries. And, when it comes to Colombian cumbia, it is said to have come from the funeral traditions of the Afro-Colombian community.
Its modern history is colonial, however. In Colombia, the genre has roots in the Caribbean coast and blends African drum beats, Indigenous flutes, and Spanish melodies. There’s also a tradition of dancing to cumbia music with candles in the dancers’ hands.
Carlos Vives and Totó la Momposina are the most popular Colombian music artists of this genre.
Vallenato takes its roots from the northern coastal region, especially Valledupar. Valledupar is a city that also hosts one of the most famous Colombian music festivals, Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata.
The Vallenato genre is deeply rural in nature and UNESCO recognizes the genre as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. I also recently talked about how UNESCO recognizes another Latin American country, Mexico’s food as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of spicy Mexican food.
Legends like Carlos Vives and Jorge Celedón have brought Vallenato into the mainstream. There’s also an interesting movie, The Wind Journeys, about a Vallenato musician Marciano Martínez, which I covered in Colombian movies.
Although Merengue is more commonly associated with the Dominican Republic, it is popular in Colombian music in its unique way along the Caribbean coast. This genre has a fast-paced rhythm and lively dance style, so it is popular at parties and celebrations.
The Colombian take on Merengue is a bit faster and diverse instrumentally. The music Colombian artists also use Cumbia and Vallenato to create a sound that has an upbeat tempo.
Artists such as Juan Carlos Coronel and Gabriel Romero have kept the Merengue music of Colombia thriving in the local scene.
Reggaeton takes its influence from Panamanian reggae en español and Puerto Rican underground music. And, the genre has exploded in popularity across the country’s urban music scene. It blends Latin, hip-hop, and Caribbean rhythms, featuring dembow beats.
Medellín, the second largest city, is famous for reggaeton production, with world-class recording studios, making it the epicenter of this genre.
J Balvin and Maluma are the chart-topping Colombian music artists of this genre. Balvin’s hits like “Mi Gente” and “Ay Vamos” have made him one of the most streamed Latin artists. While Maluma takes a melodic take on the genre.
Other rising Colombian reggaeton stars, such as Feid, Karol G, and Ryan Castro, continue to experiment and release new music.
Now that I have covered different Colombian music genres, it’s time to talk about top Colombian music artists. Many of these artists play in the above genres but not all. So, let’s see!
Carlos Vives is one of the finest and most famous Colombian singers and songwriters across Latin America. He plays the Vallenato genre but is famous for fusing Vallenato with pop and rock elements.
With over 20 million records sold, two Grammy Awards, and 18 Latin Grammy Awards to his name, he is one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time. But what was his first major breakthrough? Well, it came with the 1994 album “Clásicos de la Provincia,” which featured his signature hit “La Gota Fría.”
In the recent past decade or so, it’s his philanthropic efforts, which have made a difference in his life. He is part of the environmental preservation of his hometown, Santa Marta, through the Tras La Perla initiative. You can read his most recent interview with Grammys to know more about him.
Fonseca is a Colombian singer and songwriter who blends vallenato, pop, and Latin folk music. He got international recognition with his 2005 album Corazón and the hit single “Te Mando Flores,” which became a vallenato-pop anthem.
Over his career, he has won seven Latin Grammy Awards and 2 nominations for the Grammys. He has also collaborated with top Latin artists like Juanes, Carlos Vives, and Maluma, among many others.
So far, Fonseca has released eight studio albums. In 2018, the Colombian government gave him the “La Orden de Boyacá en grado Oficial” award for his contributions to peace.
Karol G is one of the biggest female pop stars who plays in reggaeton, Latin trap, and urban music. She became an international sensation with her hit “Ahora Me Llama” featuring Bad Bunny. Now, she is one of the most influential reggaeton and urban pop artists.
Over the years, she has won a Grammy, six Latin Grammy Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards. Her musical style primarily focuses on reggaeton and Latin trap, but she also plays across genres like pop, R&B, and Colombian rhythms.
Karol G has collaborated with top international musicians such as Shakira, Anuel AA, J Balvin, Maluma, and Nicki Minaj, among many others. She has two songs, “Ahora Me Llama” and “China”, to her credit with over one billion YouTube views.
Speaking of YouTube views, you should also check my top YouTube music channels post.
Joe Arroyo was/is a pioneer of Colombian music for his contributions to the Salsa and Cumbia genre. However, it’s his unique fusion style “Joesón,” which blended salsa, cumbia, compas, merengue, and African rhythms, made him one of the most famous Colombian music artists.
His music is also revolutionary, as he addressed social issues, particularly the history of slavery and African heritage in Colombia. La Rebelión is one of his most iconic salsa songs which addresses slavery.
For his contributions to the music of Colombia, he was given the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Bomba Estéreo is one of the top Colombian music bands that blends electronic music with traditional Caribbean rhythms like cumbia, champeta, and vallenato. The band was formed by Simón Mejía and became more mainstream after Liliana Saumet joined as the lead vocalist.
Bomba Estéreo fuses modern beats with Afro-Colombian music, which is famous as “electro-cumbia” or “psychedelic tropical” music. They have released six studio albums so far, with Deja coming in 2021.
Soy Yo is one of their best Colombian songs, which became a viral anthem of self-confidence. Their 2017 album “Ayo” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album. They have also collaborated with Bad Bunny and Hollywood actor Will Smith.
Systema Solar is a groundbreaking music and visual arts collective that is redefining Colombian music. The collective blends traditional Caribbean rhythms with electronic beats, hip-hop, and dancehall.
They take inspiration from the pico sound system culture of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, they fuse champeta, bullerengue, and cumbia with modern production. Also, they write socially conscious lyrics that address issues such as environmental conservation and social justice.
Unlike conventional Colombia music bands, Systema Solar is a multimedia collective, integrating visual arts, video projections, and performance art into their electrifying live shows.
They have performed at major festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, and Roskilde. They have released three studio albums so far, apart from the many chart-topping singles. Beyond music, they also engage in community projects and sustainable initiatives.
Manuel Medrano is one of the best Colombian singers and a two-time Latin Grammy winner. For him, the success started with his self-titled debut album, which brought him success with hits like “Bajo el Agua” and “Una y Otra Vez”.
Medrano’s music is known for guitar-driven melodies and introspective lyrics. His music differs from mainstream reggaeton and urban Latin styles, making him an exception in the contemporary scene of music in Colombia.
Beyond his solo work, he has collaborated with musicians like Natalia Lafourcade and Susana Baca. With millions of streams across digital platforms, he is inspiring a new generation of Colombia music.
ChocQuibTown is a Grammy-winning Colombian music group that fuses hip-hop, funk, reggae, and traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms like currulao and bunde. Their music is Afro-Colombian heritage in essence and celebrates Black identity, social issues, and life on Colombia’s Pacific coast.
The band got international recognition with their album “Oro” and the hit single “De Donde Vengo Yo,”. The single also won a Latin Grammy for Best Alternative Song in 2011. Apart from the first album, they have released 3 more more albums, with the most recent in 2020.
The group also has collaborated with artists like Carlos Vives, Nicky Jam, and Becky G.
Herencia de Timbiquí is another Colombian musical group that blends traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms with modern jazz, rock, and pop music. The group was created in the 2000s and they primarily play currulao and bunde music.
However, they had to wait for their first mainstream success. And, it came with their 2010 album, “Herencia de Timbiquí”. The use of traditional instruments like marimba, guasá, and conga prominently features in their first album.
Over the years, they have continued to produce the best music of Colombia. And because of their stellar work, they have received Grammy nominations and performed at major festivals. Their later albums, including “Con el Corazón” (2015), further solidified their place in the Latin music scene.
Totó la Momposina is one of Colombia’s most important cultural treasures. She is a master performer of traditional Colombian Caribbean and Afro-Colombian music. She learned ancestral rhythms and traditions from her family, and since then has been promoting Colombia’s musical heritage, particularly cumbia, bullerengue, and tambora.
Her career spans over six decades. Over decades, she has dedicated her life to performing and teaching traditional Colombian music, particularly focusing on its African, Indigenous, and Spanish roots.
The albums “La Candela Viva” and “Pacantó” are her most notable works, which brought Colombian folk music to international audiences. The album “La Candela Viva” was released through Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records.
Totó’s contributions to world music have earned her numerous accolades, including the WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award and the Latin Grammy Award for Musical Excellence. She has also collaborated with artists like Gabriel García Márquez and Richard Blair, among many others.
Colombia has its own live music sessions scene similar to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts through Sesiones RTVC. This series features famous Colombian musicians performing live renditions of iconic national folk songs in beautiful places. Between performances, artists also share stories about their lives and musical journeys.
Notable acts such as Aterciopelados and Bomba Estéreo have graced the Sesiones RTVC stage. These sessions not only highlight the rich diversity of Colombian music but also provide a platform for artists to pay homage to their cultural roots.
Now that I mention Tiny Desk concerts, there are a couple of Colombian music artists who have performed live as well. You can watch Karol G, Maluma, Bomba Estereo, Monsieur Periné, and Camilo, among many others.
One fascinating aspect of Colombian music is that despite so many instrumental and genre advances, its music is still culturally deep. Colombian music artists have kept the genres alive and refined them over the years.
This is quite remarkable considering how music is commercialized now. I talked about different genres earlier and the subsequent discussion of the music of Colombia testifies to that.
And speaking of starting true to roots, don’t forget to visit the walled city Cartagana to experience the cultural diversity first hand. And what better way than to learn Spanish for better interactions!
And, if you have any particular favorite Colombian music or musicians, do leave a comment!
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