Bomba Estéreo - Biography
Bomba Estereo is a psychedelic Cumbia band which combines traditional Latin American rhythms, cumbia, and champeta with reggae, hip-hop, and electronic music. At Bomba Estereo's core is Simon Mejia (bass, programming, band director) and Liliana "Li" Saumet (vocals). Mejia formed Bomba Estereo (originally called A.M. 770) in Bogata, Colombia in 2005 as a collective of DJs and visual artists. In 2006, Mejia renamed the group Bomba Estereo and released their debut album, Vol. 1., with Saumet providing vocals for one song. Their follow-up album, Estalla, was created as a band, featuring Mejia, Saumet, guitarist and keyboardist Julian Salazar, and percussionist Kike Egurrola. Estalla was released in Colombia in September 2008 and re-released in the US under the title, Blow Up (Nacional, 2009). MTV Iggy named them the "Best New Band in the World" in 2010. In 2011, they released a digital-only Ponte Bomb EP which included a cover of Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam." The band tours relentlessly, and has performed at South by Southwest, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Lovebox, and Bumbershoot.
